Good Marriage, Good Heart

A healthy partnership may help you live longer. Wives in highly
satisfying marriages have fewer risk factors for cardiovascular disease
than their less-satisfied or unmarried counterparts, according to a
13-year study of middle-aged women.

Women in very satisfying marriages, when compared with the
unattached or unsatisfied, had lower levels of cardiovascular risk
factors by both biological and psychological measures. They even showed
health advantages in comparison to those in moderately satisfying
marriages, though to a lesser degree.

Linda Gallo at the San Diego State University and researchers at
the University of Pittsburgh measured risk factors for cardiovascular
disease in 493 women age 42 to 50. The researchers periodically tested
blood, measured weight and height, and tracked health behaviors such as
smoking and exercise. They also examined psychological health, including
depression, anxiety and stress—known risk factors for heart
disease.

Married or cohabitating participants completed a marital quality
questionnaire that assessed satisfaction with amount of time spent
together, communication, sexual activity, agreement on financial matters,
and similarity of interests, lifestyle and temperament.

Marriage has been thought to confer health benefits on both men and
women. As a primary source of social support, marriage protects against
social isolation and can promote healthy behavior.

Women may be more sensitive to negative aspects of relationships,
research suggests, and they have stronger physiological responses to
marital conflict, which may sometimes cancel out the otherwise positive
effects of marriage.