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Want to stay young longer? If you're a man, getting married might help. But for women, the story isn't so simple.
New research shows that marriage and aging are interlinked, especially for men. Married men tend to age more slowly and stay healthier than their single friends, while marriage doesn't seem to give women the same leverage.
This research, published in International Social Work, tracked individuals aged between 45 and 85 over two decades, measuring their physical health, mental sharpness, and social connections. The team discovered that married men maintained better physical health and reported feeling younger than their single peers. But when marriages ended through divorce or death, these benefits vanished.
A stable marriage seems to motivate men to take better care of themselves. Having a spouse makes them more likely to schedule regular check-ups and maintain healthier habits.
A separate study in social psychological and personality science might hold some answers. Elaine Hoan and Geoff MacDonald found single women often report greater life satisfaction than single men.
Based on this research, women usually build stronger friendship networks and maintain closer family ties irrespective of their marriage. Contrarily, men tend to rely more heavily on their spouses for emotional support.
The research comes as marriage rates show signs of recovery after pandemic lows. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data reveals marriages increased from 5.1 per 1,000 people in 2020 to 6.2 in 2022, reaching pre-pandemic levels.
But it's not just about having a marriage certificate; marriage quality matters. Unhappy marriages can speed up aging for both partners. The stress of a troubled relationship can lead to inflammation, sleep problems, and other health issues.
The research team found that divorced and widowed adults faced higher health risks than both married and never-married individuals. According to their data, separated or divorced adults were twice as likely to show signs of aging.
According to experts, this transition out of marriage often brings significant stress. They are likely to face high blood pressure, poor sleep patterns, and higher anxiety levels.
As researchers work to connect the dots between marriage and aging, one thing becomes clear: there's no one-size-fits-all solution for healthy aging. While married men might enjoy certain health benefits, the key to aging appears to lie in strong social connections and support systems.
