Marriage has Physical and Mental Health Benefits

By Dr. Lane, Mon, January 31, 2011

According to a recent study published in the British Medical Journal, there are some very good reasons to get married when it comes to your health.

The study, conducted by researchers at Cardiff University in Wales, found that marriage increases longevity for both men and women. They also found that marriage is beneficial to men in terms of their physical health, and for women marriage benefits their mental health. Couples who were not married but had been in committed relationships for a long period of time were included in the study.

The authors of the study concluded that the physical health benefits for men are likely due to their partner’s influence on their overall lifestyle. Women likely benefit psychologically because of the high value they put on the relationship.

Individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 who were in romantic relationship fared better in terms of mental health but not physical health. Adolescent relationships correlated with a higher risk of depression during the adolescent years.

The authors did note that the mental health of single individuals was better than married individuals who were in problematic relationships. Also, both physical and mental health can be negatively impacted when a relationship ends.

All in all, despite the possible health risks of a bad relationship, the authors indicated that the benefits of a good relationship definitely make it worth pursuing. Rather than avoiding relationships altogether, work on avoiding bad relationships.

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