Want health? Get married… That, in a capsule, is the crux of the matter – an upshot from all the studies that have explored the connection between marriage and health. There are, apparently, strong links between marriage and health, which help foster overall wellbeing, especially among men.
Although there is no single formula to ensure health on the altar of marriage, the general consensus, garnered from several studies on the subject, is that married people experience lower levels of morbidity and mortality across such diverse health threats as cancer, heart attacks and even surgeries.
Men, in fact, benefit more from marriages. As one major study in America found, married men were healthier than men who never married or men whose marriages ended in divorce or death of spouse. Health was found to be beneficial when the age at marriage was 25 or more; the longer a man stays married, the greater his survival advantage.
Another study by Japanese scientists found that men who had never married were three times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than their married counterparts. The Framingham Offspring Study, in fact, found that married men had a 46 per cent lower rate of death than married men.
The list goes on…
There is no denying that a happy marriage has a positive effect on a variety of health outcomes, most importantly mental health; married men have a lower risk of depression, say studies. But then there are counter studies, which have found a link between marital unhappiness/work stress and hypertension. This places the onus on fostering a healthy relationship; one that demands conditions that are positive.
If health is on your mind, get your marriage to work for you with tips from marriage counsellors
Stay fit
For some reason, couples tend to forget their fitness regimen post marriage; as if all their fitness requirements concluded with marriage. This is probably why wedded couples tend to have fatter waistlines. A study, in fact, found that one’s chance of becoming fat increases by 37 per cent if the spouse becomes obese. Eating with the spouse or a friend can cause one to consume 33 per cent more than when one is alone.
Be active
Regular exercise may not guarantee a disease-free life, but it will create opportunities to infuse your marriage with happiness, say experts. So, whether you have been working out before marriage or not, incorporate an exercise regimen in your couple time. For, couples that work out together are said to be more likely to stick with an exercise programme.
Money matters
Having a financial plan is highly important, as most marriages succumb to fights concerning money. While one study found that nearly 40 per cent of married people lie to their spouse about a purchase, another learnt that money is the number one reason for marital fights. Before you tie the knot, put together a financial plan, one that helps find a balance between the monthly purchases and savings and ways to keep a track of all the spending.
Stay flexible
Making a financial plan before tying the knot is important, but there should be room in every plan for changes that crop up with time and situation and with your age too. Ensure an element of flexibility in the financial and household arrangements; have family discussions on how household duties can be adapted to suit the changing times.
Make rules
Granted, there is no one rule that can be applied to all marriages. What works for one couple may not necessarily apply to another… Often, it is the unresolved little issues that pile up and blow into major fights, more so following parenthood. According to a recent study, how a couple manages parenting responsibilities when the child is an infant is associated with the quality of their marriage two-and-a half years later. The objective should be to arrive at a consensus on how to care for your child and how to make family time happy.
Couple time
Make time to rediscover each other as a couple. Throw the spotlight on quality time, which, surprisingly, could happen when children leave home. A study, in fact, found that marital satisfaction improves during the so-called empty nest syndrome. The opposite, however, could be true if you are already facing marital problems. An empty nest can lay bare all the serious issues.
Health benefits of marriage
- Marriage reduces the risk of heart attacks for both men and women.
- Married couples are considerably less likely to engage in risky behaviour – be it substance abuse or dangerous driving.
- Married men have a 64 per cent lower chance of fatal strokes than single men.
- Marriage can lower stress levels, rather, it makes it easier for people to handle other stressors in their lives.
- Marriage can improve the chance of recovering from major surgery if there is a supportive spouse.
- Married men and women are also considerably less likely to develop severe mental illness.
- Happy marriage can lead to better sleeping patterns; it also ensures longevity.