Various studies have attempted to discover whether marriage makes people healthier and happier. Being single is more fun, but getting married might be more comforting and meaningful.
Both of these different parts of life affect health. A study suggests that married people live longer than bachelors. However, marriage generally leads to a higher level of happiness.
A new study also suggests that married people have lower levels of stress hormones. In this study, married people were healthier than single, divorced, or widowed people. This is the first-ever biological evidence by scientists from Carnegie Mellon University on how marriage impacts health
That means this research answers a common psychological fact that may explain how relationships influence health and disease.
Prolonged stress is associated with increased levels of cortisol. It can affect the body’s ability to regulate inflammation, supporting the development and progression of many diseases.
Individuals with Responsive Partners Experience Lower Anxiety, Better Sleep Quality
A Ph.D. student, Brian Chin said, “It’s is exciting to discover a physiological pathway that may explain how relationships influence health and disease.“
Researchers followed 572 healthy adults aged 21-55 for three days in the study. They found that married participants had lower cortisol levels than never-married or previously-married people.
While comparing each person’s cortisol level, scientists found that cortisol levels peak when a person wakes up and decline during the day. Those who were married showed a faster decline. This pattern is associated with less heart disease and longer survival among cancer patients.
Study Investigates How Orgasms Affect the Brain
Laboratory director Sheldon Cohen said, “These data provide important insight into the way in which our intimate social relationships can get under the skin to influence our health.”
Journal Reference
- Chin, B., Murphy, M. L., Janicki-Deverts, D., & Cohen, S. (2017). Marital status as a predictor of diurnal salivary cortisol levels and slopes in a community sample of healthy adults. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 78, 68-75. DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.01.016
