By AFA Journal
February 8, 2005

(AgapePress) - Marriage and health are directly linked, according to a report released by the National Center for Health Statistics, an arm of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In general, the December 2004 report reveals married people, when compared with other adults, are healthier. However, the report does not specify reasons for its claims.

Charlotte Schoenborn, a health statistician, examined the data and proposed to major theories: (1) marriage as a health protective, and (2) marital selection. The first theory is explained through the recognition of married couples as having the advantages of "economic resources, social and psychological support and encouragement of healthy lifestyles."

The second theory of marital selection is "the theory that healthy people get married and stay married, wheras less healthy people either do not marry or are more likely to become separated, divorced or widowed."

Schoenborn concluded, "In general, married adults were the least likely to experience health problems and the least likely to engage in risky health behaviors, with the notable exception of being overweight."

In addition to a cleaner bill of health, the study found that married people also have less lower back pain, headaches, and psychological stress, are more physically active, and less likely to drink and smoke.

Read the entire report from the CDC [PDF]