How marriage changes you physically and mentally, according to science
Married people tend to have better overall health than other adults, even after controlling for age, sex, race, education, income, and other factors.
But a large study published last year found those health benefits were mostly observable in older married adults. Among younger adults, married people essentially saw no overall health benefit compared to their unmarried peers.
Source: Social Science Quarterly
One study found that older married LGBT adults reported better quality of life, with partnered and married adults in the study reporting better health than single adults.
Source: Geronotologist
But married people — especially men — are more likely to be overweight and obese. Both men and women are less likely to get enough exercise after marriage.
Married men are more likely to use preventative healthcare, however, getting physicals and recommended cancer screenings.
Source: CDC
Married men and women have a lower risk for certain types of heart disease: peripheral artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and coronary artery disease.
But risk for heart disease may be higher for divorced or widowed individuals.
Source: Journal of Marriage and Family
Married people report better mental health and lower alcohol use, according to a large Canadian public-health survey.
One recent study found that in the first year of marriage, men tended to become more conscientious, while women became less neurotic.
Source: Developmental Psychology
But that same study found that women became less open and men became less extroverted in that first year.
Source: Developmental Psychology
But these benefits and drawbacks shouldn't be a reason to get married or not.
Over time, our understanding of how marriage affects people has changed and become more refined. Some researchers think the reason single people's health appears to be better now than it used to when compared to married counterparts is that there's less societal stigma around single lifestyles these days.
But even if marriage is associated with certain health benefits, that alone isn't enough reason to partner up. Maintaining relationships has been shown to be a key part of lasting wellness, but there are many kinds of intimate partnerships.
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