But divorce is common . 21 percent of Minnesotans have been divorced. The majority of divorced people wish they had tried harder . Formal preparation for marriage is common and helpful, but not universal. People who have been divorced are 60 percent less likely to have had premarital counseling.
Premarital counseling is typically very brief .
The average couple who had premarital counseling attended only an average of 1.8 sessions, far fewer than the 12 hour requirement for Covenant Marriage. Minnesotans believe in sustaining marital commitment through hard times . Couples who had premarital counseling endorsed this view more strongly than those who did not have premarital counseling. Minnesotans are not optimistic about divorce as a way to solve problems . On the other hand, Minnesotans believe that divorce is sometimes necessary and justified .