Money can’t buy happiness, according to that old saying, but putting a ring on it just might. There are lots of benefits to getting married, and a new study adds another one to the list, as it finds those who say “I do” have a lower risk of becoming depressed.
Researchers, including some from Harvard, analyzed data from more than 106-thousand participants in seven countries - the U.S., U.K., Mexico, Ireland, Korea, China and Indonesia - to find out if there’s a correlation between depression and marital status. And the findings make it pretty clear:
- Singles are 79% more likely to become depressed than people who are married.
- But being married in the past doesn’t protect you in the future, as divorcees have a 99% higher risk of having depression compared to those who are wedded.
- And widows also have a 64% greater chance of becoming depressed.
“Our analysis revealed that unmarried individuals had a higher risk of depressive symptoms than their married counterparts across all countries,” study authors explain. They found that the boost to health benefits of being married may include more access to economic resources, social support between spouses, as well as their positive influence on each other’s mental well-being.
Source: NY Post
Scott's Thoughts:
- Yeah, but doesn’t it all depend on who you’re married to?
- I believe it is possible to have good mental health and still be single. But you need friends.
- As long as the couple shares everything. Expenses, chores and emotions.