Eighty-three percent of us marry at least once. In a recent survey, 94 percent of young adults stated that finding a "soul mate" was one of their highest goals. The vast majority of us want partnership and are driven into and out of relationships seeking what? Love? Happiness? Security? Healing? All of the above?

In spite of the high failure rate of marriage and the availability of other options, why are we still driven to pair up in monogamous, committed relationships? There are many benefits to a committed relationship:

1. Regular, safe, good sex
   Committed, monogamous partners have more and better sex than singles and non-committed partners.
   
2. Companionship
   We are social beings and are comforted by closeness. Married people are healthier, happier and live longer than singles.
   
3. Intimacy
   Emotional closeness, love, trust and mutual support builds and improves over time in a committed relationship. It is much more difficult to achieve in quality and quantity outside of a committed relationship.
   
4. Family
   Both children and adults thrive in an environment of stable, long-term, multi-generational relationships.
   
5. Economics
   Committed couples are financially more successful than singles and non-committed partners.
   
6. Community
   Extended family, neighbors, churches, and other forms of networks of supportive relationships thrive on the stability of committed relationships.
   
7. Mental, emotional and physical health
   Married adults live longer and have fewer mental/emotional problems.