Marriage
does not make people any happier or healthier than singles, research suggests. Scientists
examined the physical and mental health of married people and those who never
said ‘I do.’ Getting married showed ‘little evidence’ of improving well-being in
the long term, University of California researchers said.
Dr Bella
DePaulo, who led the study, expands on the findings in her book Single at
Heart: The Power, Freedom, And Heart-Filling Joy of Single Life. A study by the
author, which was published in 2016, says: 'The media, and even scientific
journals, are filled with claims that marriage is good for health and well-being. Scientists
examined the physical and mental health of married people and those who never
said ‘I do’. A closer look at the research, though, with an eye on the
methodological biases, shows that such claims often misrepresent or exaggerate
the results of the research.'
She
continued: 'Examples of research on suicide, depression, loneliness, physical
health, and happiness are reviewed. In cross-sectional research, people who
stay single typically have very similar outcomes to those who are currently
married. 'In longitudinal research, there is little evidence that getting
married results in lastingly improved health or well-being.'
Share or comment on this
article: Is it REALLY happy ever after? Singles are JUST as happy as or even
happier than married couples, researchers say.
