Is Marriage Travis Kelce’s Secret Weapon?
Thursday’s Wall Street Journal suggests what the Bible and committed Christians have long maintained to be true: Marriage is good for men overall, including for their professional careers.
It may not have made the front pages, but buried within the Sports section is this headline:
“Travis Kelce Got Into Wedding Shape – and Embarked On a Late-Career Honeymoon.”
The subheadline goes on to note, “Months after marrying Taylor Swift, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end is playing better than he has in years. It’s no coincidence.”
The Journal’s Andrew Beaton is onto something. There is a direct correlation between strong and healthy marriages and professional success and satisfaction.
Over the years, social science has found that marriage and career progress can reinforce one another—and for men, the relationship appears particularly pronounced.
One 12-year survey concluded, “Higher marital satisfaction was associated with subsequent increases in job satisfaction, while marital discord was associated with declines in job satisfaction.” Another study of over 4,500 people found that happily married spouses reported higher income, greater job satisfaction, and were more likely to be given increased responsibility.
A summary in the “Harvard Business Review” concluded, “People with extremely conscientious spouses are 50% more likely to get promoted than those with extremely unconscientious spouses. Conscientious spouses take on household tasks and create a satisfying home life, enabling employees to focus more on work; they also display pragmatic behaviors that their mates emulate, the researchers found.”
In short, happiness within a marriage can spill over into both the home and the workplace.
Studies have also found that marriage is associated with healthier behaviors, and longitudinal studies suggest that spouses can influence one another’s health habits. When one spouse makes positive changes and eats and lives in a healthier fashion, the other is much more likely to follow. For example, studies have found that married men are significantly less likely to abuse alcohol and drugs and more likely to exercise than those who are single.
The Wall Street Journal article quotes Tony Villani, the founder of XPE Sports, a firm dedicated to helping athletes improve their physicality, especially in the NFL. While Kelce was able to play at a high level last season, he was beginning to struggle. Since getting married, Kelce has worked in the offseason with Villani and his team.
“We know if you’re putting a good woman in your life and cutting out some of the nonsense, you’re probably taking care of yourself a little better,” Villani said. “Good surroundings create good outcomes.”
A video of Taylor Swift cheering her husband on two weeks ago during the Kansas City Chiefs–Indianapolis Colts game at Arrowhead Stadium went viral after Travis Kelce scored his first touchdown of the season. Amid the celebration, Swift pointed to her wedding ring and happily exclaimed, “That’s my husband!”
A few days later on his podcast, Kelce said, “Just doing my deed as a husband.” He then added, “Proud wife, baby. Gotta make my girl proud.”
Few wives and husbands have a platform like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce to so publicly champion their spouse, but many are wise to nevertheless exhibit similar love and energy however they possibly can.
The celebrity and associated qualities of such a high-profile couple may leave some looking elsewhere, but it’s a good thing when the institution of marriage is so positively acknowledged.
