Paula Hall, a relationship psychotherapist in private practice, said that marriage can improve people's health as it provides the security which is an essential part of well-being.
She explained: "When we feel secure we feel free and motivated to explore and expand into the world and seek fulfillment.
"This goes right back to basic survival psychology," Ms Hall added.
The comments follow research by the American Cancer Society health journal, Cancer, which showed that the highest survival rates of those people diagnosed with the disease were married.
Ms Hall added that "few people take divorce lightly" as the emotional impact can be "devastating".
Linda Waite of University of Chicago recently said in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior that divorce is bad for health.
Divorced or single people were more likely to suffer from chronic diseases such as cancer or heart disease.
