Health Benefits of Being Married

Marriage is "Good for Your Health"

Men and women are healthier when they are married, according to a new study.

The research, which focused on nearly 35,000 people across 15 different countries, found that husbands and wives are less likely to suffer from anxiety and depression than people who not married. However, an increased risk of mental health disorders was found to occur when relationships ended through death or divorce.

Women were found to be more likely to turn to substance abuse at the end of a relationship while men are more likely to become depressed.

Kate Scott from the University of Otago in New Zealand said: "What makes this investigation unique and more robust is the sample is so large and across so many countries and the fact that we have data not only on depression ... but also on anxiety and substance use disorders.

"In addition, we were able to look at what happens to mental health in marriage, both in comparison with never getting married, and with ending marriage."

The study, which was conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organisation and Harvard University, was published in the British journal Psychological Medicine.

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