Healthy Marriage

A new study supports the growing evidence that healthy marriages equal healthier men and women.

Researchers from Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, MN, investigated whether marital status and self-assessed mental health are independent risk factors for poor self-rated overall health among female primary care patients.

The cross-sectional survey of family medicine patients treated in a clinic in rural Minnesota included 723 women. Self-ratings of mental health, demographics and symptoms were used to predict self-rated overall health.

The study found that women who were single, divorced or otherwise not married or widowed had lower odds of good self-rated overall health compared with married women. Women who were 65 years of age and over, women who rated themselves as depressed and women who reported more physical symptoms also were less likely to have good health compared with younger women, women who did not feel depressed and women with fewer physical symptoms, respectively.

Education was not independently related to health in this sample. Worry was related to health in the univariate analysis but not after controlling for self-assessed depression.

The study authors concluded that in order to improve overall health among rural women seen in primary care settings, special attention may need to be directed at women who are single, are older, report more physical symptoms and feel depressed. They suggested that programs include self-help materials, support groups and counseling services addressing social isolation, employment and financial hardship.

This study comes during a time of marriage crisis in America; almost half of all marriages continue to end in divorce. However, couples who stay married report happier and healthier lives.

In an article for Discovery Health, David Popenoe, a professor of sociology at Rutgers University and co-director of the National Marriage Project, dispelled common myths about marriage. Popenoe asserted that recent research suggests that men and women benefit about equally from marriage, although in different ways. Both men and women live longer, happier, healthier and wealthier lives when they are married. Husbands typically gain greater health benefits, while wives gain greater financial advantages.

Other research found that couples with children have a slightly lower rate of divorce than childless couples. Popenoe found that the most common reasons couples give for their long-term marital success are commitment and companionship. He warned that many studies have found that those who live together before marriage have less satisfying marriages and a considerably higher chance of eventually breaking up. And, according to a large-scale national study, married people have both more and better sex than do their unmarried counterparts; they report enjoying it more, both physically and emotionally.

Another recent study of 17 developed nations found that married persons have a significantly higher level of happiness than persons who are not married after controlling for gender, age, education, children, church attendance, financial satisfaction and self-reported health. The authors asserted that "the strength of the association between being married and being happy is remarkably consistent across nations." Marriage boosted financial satisfaction and health; cohabitation, by contrast, did not increase financial satisfaction or perceived health and the boost to happiness from having a live-in lover was only about a quarter of that of being married, stated the researchers.

And finally, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Administration for Children and Families found benefits for children, men, women and communities.

Children and youth who are raised by parents in healthy marriages, compared to unhealthy marriages, are: more likely to attend college, more likely to succeed academically, physically healthier, emotionally healthier, less likely to attempt or commit suicide, less likely to have behavioral problems in school, less likely to be a victim of physical or sexual abuse, less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol, less likely to commit delinquent behaviors, more likely to have a better relationship with their mothers and fathers, less likely to divorce when they get married, less likely to become pregnant as a teenager or impregnate someone, less likely to be sexually active as teenagers, less likely to contract STDs and less likely to be raised in poverty.

Women who are in healthy marriages are: more likely to have a more satisfying relationship, emotionally healthier, physically healthier, wealthier, less likely to be victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or other violent crimes, less likely to attempt or commit suicide, less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol, less likely to contract STDs, less likely to remain or end up in poverty and more likely to have better relationships with their children.

Men who are in healthy marriages, compared to unhealthy marriages, are: more likely to live longer, physically healthier, wealthier, more likely to have increased stability of employment, more likely to have higher wages, emotionally healthier, less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol, more likely to have better relationships with their children, more likely to have a satisfying sexual relationship, less likely to commit violent crimes, less likely to contract STDs and are less likely to attempt or commit suicide.

And lastly, communities with a higher percentage of couples in healthy marriages report the following: higher rates of physically healthy citizens, higher rates of emotionally healthy citizens, higher rates of educated citizens, lower domestic violence rates, lower crime statistics, lower teen age pregnancy rates, lower rates of juvenile delinquency, higher rates of home ownership, lower rates of migration, higher property values and decreased need for social services.

For more information, please visit Natural Standard's Medical Conditions database, specifically the Marital Distress Monograph.

 

Comments

[Manda]

Many studies have shown that married people are healthier. But that doesn't mean that marriage improves health. It may mean that healthier people get married and stay married.

[Krista]

You forgot to mention the negative trends that the CDC observed. Married men were more likely to be overweight or obese than single men. The problem was most common among middle-aged married men, with 75% of men aged 45-64 being overweight or obese. The slimmest groups were men and women who had never married.

[mo]

This seems to contradict earlier research that evaluated depression levels in single and married people. To summarize, married men were less likely to have depression, while single women were less likely to suffer from depression. There has been a lot of speculation about the causes for these trends, but given the link between mental health and physical health, this is important information, and further studies should be done.

[Jess]

I agree with Manda - I'm not entirely sure this study says anything about the causal link between happiness and marriage. For instance, what is a healthy marriage? Who funded this study? Why is this important in the big picture?

[Leah Cohen]

This opens up a whole area of disagreement, and as Manda and Krista mentioned above, it behooves the researchers to also mention conflicting data.

For instance, while "healthy" marriages may in fact be related to healthier populations, the effect of "unhealthy" marriage on human health is an area that must be addressed. I recently read, although I cannot remember the source, that unhealthy marriages may result in more deleterious outcomes than comparable, single, unmarried populations.

[Mora]

I'm surprised that so many people have negative feelings about this study. I always thought it was common knowledge that married couples generally live longer, happier lives. I think it just has to do with having someone there for support. It can make a big difference in how you respond to negative life events, such as the loss of a loved one or the diagnosis of a chronic illness.

There's also research to suggest that people who have pets may live longer, happier lives. Again, I think it comes down to having someone or something to care about. Loneliness can have serious negative effects on a person's health and outlook on life.

However, I do agree that unhappy marriages can have the complete opposite effects on a person's health and quality of life.

[Linda]

This research doesn't really surprise me. When I look at my grandparents who have been married for more than 50 years, it's apparent to me that their love has helped them get through many tough times. My grandfather battled cancer a few years ago, and my grandma was by his side every step of the way. He's the type of person who is very pessimistic, and without my grandma's positive outlook, I don't think he would have recovered.

[Denise]

You also have to consider the other things that go along with marriage. For instance, I bet married couples are more likely to have health insurance than single people. This is because most companies offer coverage to your spouse.

I'd also assume that that married couples are more likely to have children. Maybe having a family (and not just being married) influences health and happiness?

[Leah Cohen]

Certainly, the positive effects of marriage are not to be underestimated and are well known. But again, it would also be best to at least mention conflicting data that may exist, if for nothing else than to better highlight the positive results of this research by quantifying it.

[john cena]

The behavioral therapy is really an effective treatment, but you still need to take precautions. Although marriage has mostly positive effects, some effects may be negative.
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John Cena
http://www.addictionrecovery.net/minnesota

[Garth]

What is the current statistic for how many marriages end in divorce? I remember one calculation at 50%. Well, if no one ever divorced, there might be a different result from this study. If men and women stayed in unhappy marriages, all that negativity would likely have an echoing effect on their health, and this study would be nullified! The correlation between happiness and satisfaction with good health and good health practices is logical and supported by all manner of studies.

[Petric Rodger]

Healthy marriage requires that couples love each other. They should have great understanding each other.
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Petric Rodeger
http://www.addictionrecovery.net/missouri

[digitalinfos113]

When a couple forms and sustains a healthy marriage everyone takes benefits from it, so it is important to have a healthy marriage.
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Petric Rodger
http://www.addictionrecovery.net/missouri