Married Couples No Longer Healthier Than Single Individuals According To Marriage And Health Study
In the past, marriage, happiness, and good health have all been intertwined. But believe it or not, saying your vows and promising to love someone through the good times and the bad times, does not guarantee that you will never get sick, experience hardships, or run into obstacles in the coming years. It does not place a big sign over your head that says, “I’M MARRIED. Stress, anxiety, and hardships please stay away!” Instead, a marriage helps to create a foundation for you to grow with someone and it provides you with someone that you can count on. Marriage creates a pathway for open communication and endless opportunities.
Did You Know That Marriage Can Have a Pretty Substantial Effect on Your Health?
Recently, Dmitry Tumin, a sociology researcher from Ohio State University conducted a study in which he compared married couples who were born between the years 1955 and 1984. Click here to link to the study. Astoundingly, his study concluded that the overall health benefits of marriage have drastically decreased.
Despite the popular belief that marriage has a positive effect on your health, scholarly skepticism has drawn researchers to look deeper into the connection between health and marriage. What was once seen as a safeguard for good health is now being viewed as a source of conflict and stress (Tumin, 2017). Because of this switch in momentum, studies are beginning to reveal that married couples are no longer healthier than single individuals.
While marriage may result in life long happiness shared with your best friend, two children, your dog Beau, and that beautiful house on the hill with a wraparound porch, the harsh reality is that divorce rates continue to be high and fewer people than ever are tying the knot. Higher rates of divorce are associated with people of lower socioeconomic status. This is a double whammy for people of this class because they are already at risk of having poorer health (Tumin, 2017).
What’s to Blame for the Spike in Divorce?
Experts say that people are working longer hours and when they are not working, they are thinking about work, instead of focusing on their home lives. This causes tension in their relationships, and gives rise to argument and conflict (Tumin 2017). Often times, people choose not to marry because they are more focused on themselves than others. Being single provides them with a sense of independence and allows them to rise to their full potential without focusing on the stress of a serious relationship.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: I want to thank Jessica Robinson in our office for researching and writing this marriage blog article! Nice job Jessica!
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Attorney Robert “Chip” Mues has been focusing his legal practice throughout Southwest Ohio primarily in divorce and family law matters since 1978. Chip is passionate about family law and has proudly published the Ohio Family Law Blog since 2007. In addition, he is the managing partner of Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues. To learn more about him or the law firm, visit the firm’s website at www.hcmmlaw.com. Appointments are available in person, over the phone or by Zoom. Call us at 937 293-2141.
