Psychological maturity matters more for marriage than a person’s real age, psychologist Anna Badalyan told reporters on Monday, commenting on the Armenian Government’s recent decision to raise women’s marital age.

“Sometimes a person aged 40 has the mentality and perceptions of an 18-year-old. And also, there are 18-year-olds who are quite developed and mature. A person’s right development is largely affected by the family and the parents’ role in his or her life. The society too, has a big influence,” she said, adding that a preferable age for marriage is 24-25 from the point of view of psychology.

The cabinet approved on Friday a legal proposal to raise the women's marital age to 18. So far, the Family Code allowed women to conclude marriage upon turning 17. The draft is pending consideration by the National Assembly.

Hailing the move, Lilit Kujulyan, a gynaecologist also attending the news conference, said the decision is justified as a girl is not fully mature at the age of 17.

“The pelvic bone in girls develops at age 18, sometimes even at 20. So marriage and pregnancy in this period is dangerous for a woman. The reproductive health age, according to the World Health Organization, is 25-30. The best age for childbirth is between 20 and 25,” the doctor said, recommending girls marrying at 18 to give birth after turning 20.

She also agreed with Badalyan that a couple’s psychological maturity is very important.


Asked whether the legislative amendment raising women’s marital age by just one year really mattera, Kujulyan said a person is considered adult from age 18.