Marriage is one of the most significant non-biological factors that extend life expectancy. This is because married people tend to take fewer health risks and are generally healthier mentally and emotionally. Additionally, marriage provides the social and financial support needed to take you to the doctor when you get sick. However, recent studies show that the difference between married and single people is narrowing. The most significant reason for this is the changing perception of marriage. Nevertheless, marriage plays a role in the life expectancy of people over the age of seventy.
There is no doubt that simply having a document proving one is married on paper does not extend life expectancy. Today, there are many people who appear to be single in official records but who still enjoy the benefits traditionally associated with marriage in their daily lives. This complicates the work of researchers studying the relationship between marriage, health, and life expectancy.
Despite nearly half a century having passed since sociologist Jessie Bernards first proposed that marriage benefits men more, this view remains widely accepted among the public. A large-scale study of 127,545 American adults found that married men are healthier and live longer than their unmarried counterparts; the longer a man remains married, the greater his survival advantage compared to his unmarried peers.1
Recent studies show that life expectancy for single men, in particular, has increased compared to the past. In the past, single men had the shortest life expectancy. Today, however, the life expectancy of single men has come close to that of married men. Experts attribute this to single men now having access to social support systems they lacked in the past, as well as their ability to access necessary medical care due to increased health awareness today.
Is marriage really necessary for a long life?
Bella DePaulo is among the leading voices arguing that marriage is not a prerequisite for health, longevity, and happiness, and that the evidence on this subject is exaggerated and unsubstantiated. In her research on this topic, which has spanned nearly 20 years, DePaulo has so