A new study has found that overall, married people are in better mental and physical health than their unmarried peers. In essence, they are stating that having a happy marriage is the key to good health.
Marriage is a two-way street
Granted, not every marriage is perfect and it takes hard work and effort to accommodate someone else’s needs. And that goes both ways. We hear a lot of talk about increasing divorce rates and infidelity while married, which makes young people not want to get married.
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But we all know in the recesses of our minds that choosing to spend your life with another human being doesn’t happen on a whim. It can take years to really get to know a person, and what it takes to make us and ourselves happy.
This happiness in marriage has now been linked to being healthier.
Marriage keeps our health in check
A study following 700 couples for a 20-year period found that each partner’s health can be affected by both positive and negative interactions at all stages of marriage.
The researchers of the study believe that health benefits from marriage can be strong enough to improve your health throughout your years as a couple. Having an engaging partner can lift spirits and improve well-being, helping to promote stress relief.
Those in happier marriages were more likely to give their health a higher rating as they aged.
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These health benefits go even further, according to the researchers, as they state that aging adults whose physical health is on the decline can also see a positive effect from improving their marriage.
Marital relationships can be an important part of your treatment plan. When your partner knows and understands the health issues you are facing, it can promote at-home management and improve the health of both partners—a definite plus for aging adults.
Keeping your significant other happy is something we should strive for, treating them with care and respect. Happiness has long been associated with leading a healthier life, and your wife or husband is a big part of that.
Emily Lunardo studied medical sociology at York University with a strong focus on the social determinants of health and mental illness. She is a registered Zumba instructor, as well as a Canfit Pro trainer, who teaches fitness classes on a weekly basis. Emily practices healthy habits in her own life as well as helps others with their own personal health goals. Emily joined Bel Marra Health as a health writer in 2013.
