On going government funded research shows a link between marriage and better health. This is especially true for men’s health and married men. A happy marriage brings on even better mental health for both men and women. Most couples relationships have life styles that researchers have shown place high value on variables that serve your health better than people without a marital like relationship.
Here is a summary of the purpose of the research on marriage and better health:
“A focus on the most rigorous recent evidence reveals that marriage has positive effects on certain health-related outcomes. These studies find, for example, that marriage improves certain mental health outcomes, reduces the use of some high-cost health services (such as nursing home care), and increases the likelihood of having health insurance coverage. In addition, an emerging literature suggests that growing up with married parents is associated with better health as an adult. Marriage has mixed effects on health behaviors — leading to healthier behaviors in some cases (reduced heavy drinking) and less healthy behaviors in others (weight gain). For other key health outcomes — in particular, measures of specific physical health conditions-the effects of marriage remain largely unaddressed by rigorous research.
“The relationship between marriage and health is complex. Marital status can both affect health outcomes and be affected by them. Healthier people may have a better chance of marrying and staying married because they may be viewed as more desirable marriage partners based on their physical attractiveness, earnings potential, mental well-being, degree of self-sufficiency, or likely longevity. Social scientists describe this pattern as the “selection” of healthy people into marriage. If this is the only reason for the correlation between marriage and health, then marriage is not causing better health. Instead, the observed health differences between married and unmarried people are the result of healthier people being more likely to marry.
“Alternatively, there may be a true causal link between marriage and better health. Marriage could improve health outcomes in a variety of ways. It may result in two incomes, as well as economies of scale, improving economic well-being.(2) Having more income could, in turn, improve health outcomes by enhancing access to health care or lowering stress. In addition, a spouse may play an important role in monitoring and encouraging healthy behaviors (such as good eating habits and regular exercise), as well as in discouraging unhealthy ones (such as smoking or heavy drinking).(3) Marriage may also provide an emotionally fulfilling, intimate relationship, satisfying the need for social connection, which could have implications for both physical and mental health. Most researchers conclude that the association between marriage and health represents a combination of the selection of healthier people into marriage and true health benefits from marriage.” (excerpted from “The Effects of Marriage on Health: A Synthesis of Recent Research Evidence” by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
This is not to say that marriage guarantees better health. But is does suggest that as a life style, despite its trails and tribulations, there are health benefits to being in a marriage like relationship.
In my opinion, it is also a good reason to make an effort to stay married when things get tough. A good counselor can certainly help in this. Give me, Paul W. Anderson, Ph.D., a call at 913-901-9110 and let’s see what can be done to put joy and happiness back into you marriage. Marriage and better health can live well side by side.
