National Marriage Week: Married Families Are Healthier

Rachel Sheffield / February 11, 2011

Most people know that eating well and exercising regularly leads to better health. What some people may not know, however, is that marriage is also good for their health. And its benefits extend across gender, race, and income levels. Furthermore, both married adults and children from married-parent families are more likely to have good health.

Good health is important to everyone’s quality of life. And in the current debate about improving health outcomes without raising costs, it’s good to know that we can look somewhere other than government for factors that can help improve Americans’ health outcomes.

According to a variety of research studies, married individuals more frequently report “excellent or very good” health than do their never-married, divorced, or widowed counterparts. And it isn’t just living with a romantic partner that is indicative of well-being. Married couples also report better health than their peers who are simply cohabiting (living with a boyfriend or girlfriend). (more…)