Many married couples might complain about the stress of their everyday lives, from raising kids to managing household finances. However, research shows that marriage can actually improve your overall health, including both your mental and physical well-being.
For one thing, married partners tend to have overall healthier habits, such as working out and eating well. Married people also tend to sleep more and maintain regular doctor’s visits. These factors may be because you have someone else to help cover for you at home while you work out or go to a doctor’s appointment. This person is also more likely to remind you if these habits start to slip. Whatever the reason, the more healthy habits you have in your life, the healthier you will be overall.
In addition, married people have lower cortisol stress levels when their marriage is happy, according to a 2010 study. This is probably because you are more relaxed, less angry and have a better social structure to help provide support when things get bad. A study by the Journal of Family Issues notes that marriage may reduce depression because one of the primary factors in depression is a sense of loneliness, which is less likely in a happy marriage.
Research also shows that married folks also tend to live longer and have lower risk of mental impairment, have fewer heart problems and have less pain sensitivity. Again, this is likely because of the desire to live longer to be with your partner and simply because there is someone reminding you to take care of yourself.
The bad news in all of this? The other side is also true. If you are in an unhappy marriage, are in the process of getting, are recently divorced, or are in an abusive relationship, both your physical and mental health will suffer. So if you find yourself in an unhealthy relationship, get help from a therapist or doctor. Your health and life could literally be on the line.
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