The myth is that marriage can make you mad, but psychologists have found that is really is good for your health.
Clinical psychologist Dr Kate Scott from New Zealand’s University of Otago conducted the study of more than 35,000 people across 15 different countries based on a decade of surveys by the World Health Organization.
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“We were able to look at what happens to mental health in marriage, both in comparison with never getting married, and with ending marriage,” Dr Scott said in a media statement.
The study found that getting married, as opposed to not sharing nuptials, is better for the mental health of both men and women, not just women as previous studies had found.
Dr Scott found that there was an increased risk of mental health issues in those who have a marriage end, through death, divorce or separation. Men have an increased risk of developing depression and women are more likely to turn to substance abuse.
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“What our study points to is that the marital relationship offers a lot of mental health benefits for both men and women, and that the distress and disruption associated with ending marriage can make people vulnerable to developing mental disorders,” Dr Scott said.
A number of other differences between married genders were revealed in the study, including that women were more likely to become depressed in their first marriage than men. This, Dr Scott said, was probably linked to traditional gender roles at home.
Your say: What do you think of these findings? Have you seen these findings reflected in your life? Do you think married people are healthier? Share your thoughts with us below.
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