Is the married state a boon?

Research has proved what all of us always knew. This is true that a good marriage can keep you healthy and fit. It has long been believed that men benefit from tying the knot than women do. But researchers in Australia have found that actually both the sexes benefit from marriage. Overall, the married people are sick less often and are more active. They smoke and drink less and in general feel better than single or never married. Marriage seems to protect health. Experts say, “Marriage is sort of like a life preserver or a seat belt.”

The nature of your marriage has a significant impact on your health. A good marriage can do wonders to protect you from illness while a bad one can literally make you ill. The marriage may not be perfect but as long as it is not a negative relationship, it is fine for the health. And the most important thing to realize is that married couples lead a more stable life, free from loneliness. Unmarried people spend twice as much time as patients in hospitals as their married peers do. They also have lower activity levels.

Is marriage an old fashioned institution? Certainly not! It has stood the volcanic ups and downs of centuries. A harmonious marriage still stands tall! It is a strong pillar of strength that supports society. It is a highly relevant institution even today. And it is especially true in the area of adult health and well being. Research shows that, men and women who are happily married enjoy significantly higher levels of physical and mental health than those who are either single, divorced or living together. Those in a happy relationship are motivated to keep fit. They want to look good and cannot afford to overeat. Those who rate their marriage as highly satisfying are likely to stay at the same weight, but divorced, single, widowed or unhappily married women are more likely to put on weight.

Bhagat, a senior citizen and a diplomat, when asked about marriage answered without any hesitation, “a harmonious marriage adds years to your life and gives you something to live on. I enjoy the company of my life partner and have two responsible and loving children, because I decided to tie the knot at the right time.” This shows that married couples have better economic resources, good psychological and social support and feel encouraged to adopt healthy life styles. They help each other in the time of distress. The truth is that marriage gives the opportunity for all parts of your body to be used appropriately and this leads to proper hormonal balance. Marriage gives an opportunity to bring in the world new humans and gives you the pleasure of bringing them up. Marriage improves sexual fulfillment, protects against feelings of loneliness, contributes to elevated feelings of happiness, gives on the pleasure of parenthood and increases individual earnings and savings.  John Gottman, PhD, a well respected psychologist and marriage researcher reports that an unhappy marriage can increase your chances of becoming ill by 35 per cent. He believes that working on your marriage everyday will do more for your health and longevity than working out at a health club. And also married people are less likely to drink and smoke and are more physically active than people in general. So enjoy a happy marriage and good health!