Back in the mid 1800’s a British born doctor helped develop the practice of gathering medical statistics. He did this by showing more unmarried people died from disease than married people did. Doctor William Farr was one of the first medical professionals to suggest that there is a health advantage to marriage. Numerous studies claiming that marriage is good for your health have been published in the world’s leading health journals in the centuries that have followed.

Statistics gathered by the University of Chicago indicate that married men live an average 10 years longer than unmarried men and that married women live 4 years longer than unmarried women. The list below covers some of the reasons outlined in the Chicago study.

Married men engage in less risky behavior
Married couples have twice the resources, which equals less stress
Husbands and wives tend to eat out less/ cook healthier meals
Couples encourage each other to see physicians
Married men and women consume less alcohol and drugs
Married men and women suffer less depression

Reaction

From 2006 to 2010 the US Department of Health and Human Services ran a national marriage promotion in response to the overwhelming data. The initiative received $150 million each year for projects that focused on reducing divorce and promoting the health benefits of staying married.

Marriage relationship workshops, special counseling sessions and other pro-marriage programs have been developed in the United States, Canada and Europe that uphold the belief that marriage is healthy.

Divorce and Death

The Journal of Health and Social Behavior published a study in 2010 that monitored the marriage and health of 9 thousand men and women in their 50’s and 60’s. When these married people became single again due to divorce or the death of a spouse, they suffered declining health. Twenty per-cent more chronic health problems such as heart disease and diabetes were reported compared to those who were still married. Those who were divorced reported aging less gracefully. They seemed to find it harder walking long distances, exercising and getting up and down stairs.

Some research is now underway to find ways to lower the impact of divorce and death on the body. Researchers are even looking at the connection between nutrition and the stress caused by these types of events.

Challenging the theory

Many psychologists will argue that marriage itself is not a recipe for good health but a “good marriage” is. They‘re theory is that a “bad marriage”; one filled with chaos, arguing and constant stress can lead to more health problems. The idea is that a “happy marriage” is the key to a healthy life.

A study by researchers at the University of Rochester supports this notion. The findings published in the journal, ‘Health Psychology’ suggests marital satisfaction has an impact on survival rates. One example cited in the report involved patients with heart problems. The researchers discovered that happily married men who undergo coronary bypass surgery are 3 times more likely to be living 15 years later, while their unmarried counter- parts are not.

There is not a single cause of depression.  Causes of depression are not fully understood by the medical community although it is believed that there are certain triggers that can lead to a depressive state, including:

-          Stressful events in a person’s life (a death, job loss, etc.)
-          Certain medical conditions
-          Chemical imbalances in the brain
-          Social factors (finances, lack of a support system, loneliness, etc.)
-          Genetics

Perhaps the most shocking, is the recent correlation between wealth and depression.

A recent study conducted by the WHO found that wealthier nations such as the United States and France have higher rates of depression than poorer countries such as Mexico and China.  The highest rate of depression was found in France, with a rate of 21%; while the lowest rate was found in China at 6.5%.

Researchers from the WHO study found that if you live in a wealthy nation, you are more likely to experience at least one depressive episode than if you live in a middle to low income nation. Approximately 15% of people living in the 10 richest countries included in the study experienced a depressive episode, while only 11% of people living in poorer countries experienced depressive episode. One thing that did remain consistent in wealthy and poor nations was that depression causes impairment in a person’s life – personal and work lives are both affected negatively.

Researchers suggest a number of different theories as to why a discrepancy in the depression rates between wealthy and poorer countries exists.  Individuals living in wealthier nations tend to rely less on social support for marital or work-related problems when compared to individuals living in lower income nations.  It is known that there is a strong link between depression and lack of a support system.  One researcher even suggests that individuals living in poorer nations tend to have stronger religious beliefs which provide additional support and protection from experiencing depression.

In wealthier nations there is also a heightened expectation to achieve financial success.  If an individual does not reach this expectation, it could result in a depressive episode because they feel like a failure when compared to societal norms.  Additionally, stress is also prominent in wealthier nations where incomes are higher.  Stress can lead to depressive episodes as well. Furthermore, in wealthier nations, there tends to be more income-inequality which can lead to depression among other health conditions.

Another reason why this discrepancy may exist is that mental illness, such as depression, is much more recognized and diagnosed in wealthier nations.  Some people say that depression is perhaps over-diagnosed in wealthier nations.  Individuals living in poorer countries may not even know or recognize signs of depression and as a result potential depressive episodes may have not been reported in the WHO study.

While the reason(s) for the difference in depression levels between wealthy and poor nations remains unknown, it does exist.  Future research should focus on why these differences are seen and nation-specific ways to diagnose and treat the condition.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

There is an array of signs and symptoms associated with depression, common ones include:

-          Feelings of hopelessness
-          Loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy
-          Appetite or weight changes
-          Sleep difficulties
-          Irritability
-          Loss of energy / lethargy
-          Engaging in dangerous behaviour (drinking, drug use, etc.)
-          Difficulty concentrating
-          Experiencing unexplained aches and pains

Treatment for Depression

Just as there is no single cause of depression, there is not a single treatment for depression.  There are many effective treatment options so it is best to discuss your condition with your healthcare provider and come up with an individualized treatment plan so you experience the best results.  Some treatment options include:

-          Medication (there are many antidepressants available)
-          Therapy (talk therapy, psychotherapy, individual and/or group therapy, etc.)
-          Lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, nutrition, etc.)
-          Nutritional supplementation
-          Relaxation techniques (yoga, meditation, acupuncture, etc.)