Do married people live longer, healthier lives than their single counterparts? This is not an issue that came up only recently, e.g. in connection with the increasing acceptance and legalization of same sex marriage or statistics that show unmarried people outnumbering married ones for the first time in Americas history. In fact, as far back as in the mid 1800s, scientists have investigated the potential benefits of marriage, not only in terms of economics and social status but specifically for health.
A British epidemiologist named William Farr was one of the first to study what he called conjugal condition, by which he meant the impact of marital status on peoples health. He found that married couples had on average longer life expectancies than the unmarried or the widowed. His findings, although now outdated in methodology and scope, still hold and have been confirmed by multiple studies on the subject that is known as the marriage advantage.
Obviously, it would be a mistake to credit marriage itself as the sole source of such benefits. Back in William Farrs days, as today, it is tempting to exaggerate the importance of the institution while underestimating the difference that quality and character of a marriage makes, says Tara Parker-Pope, a health writer for the New York Times/Well blog. The mere fact of being married, it seems, isnt enough to protect your health, she says.
In fact, clinical studies have found that being in stressful relationships or marriages can lead to serious health problems, including heart disease. In other words, you can actually die of a broken heart, quite literally.
Marital distress can be a chronic stressor, concluded one study that focused on couples facing problems early on in their marriages. Among other effects, some spouses showed poorer immunological responses, meaning their immune system weakened, leaving them less protected against any number of diseases.
And it doesnt have to come to open conflict to diminish the advantages that may or may not come after tying the knot. No matter how happy and excited couples are at the outset, wedded bliss has a limited shelf life, writes Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, in a recent op-ed article on the issue in the New York Times. New love seems nearly as vulnerable [] as a new job, a new home, a new coat and other novel sources of pleasure and well-being, she says. The special joy wears off and [newlyweds] are back where they started, at least in terms of happiness.
So, is there any chance for lasting marital bliss with all its promises? There can be, according to Dr. Lyubomirsky, if couples stick it out and get over the hurdles that inevitable come when reality sets in. A fat reduction review can help you establish a clear outline of what you require to focus on to complete your fat burning target if you're a beginner; or serve as a reminder for the ones who are at an intermediate or more improve step of their weight loss program. Promptly after are seven steps that can serve as suggestions for your special weight loss plan. The first thing that one must understand is that losing weight and losing fat is not a similar thing. Many weight loss courses have tricked people into thinking that it is the same, but most diets and weight loss applications only work by leading to a person's body to lose more muscle tissue and water than actual body fat, more help please visit The Fat Loss Factor. What sometimes happens is that spouses rediscover each other once the kids are grown and out of the house. So-called empty-nesters have a chance to fall in love all over again, but this time on more solid ground and with fewer expectations. That can be healthier and still enhance their overall well-being.
Of course, there are no specific rules how to keep the proverbial fires going or rekindle them if necessary. What often goes missing as marriages endure is an element of surprise and variety, says Dr. Lyubomirsky. Eventually routines dominate our lifestyles and we settle for the status quo. We know who we are and think we know all there is to know about our partners. While familiarity does not necessarily breed contempt, it certainly can foster a growing degree of indifference.
This is where couples can and should become creative and engage in activities both partners enjoy to bring back a bit of excitement into their lives. The curiosity and keen interest in each other they once had when love was young does not have to be lost. On the contrary. Some say, those who play together, stay together. So, lets explore...
If you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy reading "Both Marriage and Divorce Can Cause Weight Gain"
Timi Gustafson R.D. is a registered dietitian, newspaper columnist, blogger and author of the book The Healthy Diner How to Eat Right and Still Have Fun, which is available on her blog, Food and Health with Timi Gustafson R.D., and at amazon.com. You can follow Timi on Twitter and on Facebook.
Is It Time for Christians to Celebrate Pre-Marital Sex?
www.patheos.com/blogs/tonyjones/2013/02/06/is-it-time...marital-sexOne of the things about being divorced and remarried is that everyone knows that Ive had sex with more than one partner. No one seems to hold it against me because ...
Why Marriages Succeed or Fail: And How You Can Make Yours
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/why-marriages-succeed-or-fail-john...If You Love Your Mate but Your Marriage Seems to Be Off Track, Then This Book Is for You. Psychologist John Gottman has spent 20 years studying what makes a marriage ...
Celebrity News Celebrity Gossip - Yahoo! omg!
omg.yahoo.com/newsGet the latest celebrity news from Yahoo! omg! Find the latest news about the Hollywood celebrities with videos and photos
Please watch this video on why "Marital Therapy" can be ...
savethemarriage.comDate: Let Me Tell You About Kelly and Greg... When I first met Kelly, she and her husband, Greg, were literally driving to the attorney's ...
Marriage Articles - Find Marriage Related Articles on
www.articlesbase.com RelationshipsFind Marriage articles at ArticlesBase.com a free articles directory. Submit your articles for free distribution and find Marriage content for your website, Ezine or ...
Marriage -- Free Advice and Tips to Help Make Your Marriage a ...
marriage.about.comFree helpful advice and answers to your marriage questions about anniversaries, love, sex, finances, porn, adultery, licenses, romance, problems, in-laws, getting ...
9 simple steps to happiness - Health - MSN Healthy Living
healthyliving.msn.com/health-wellness/9-simple-steps-to-happinessExperience more joy every day with these surprising new scientifically proven tactics.
The Gay Guide to Wedded Bliss - Liza Mundy - The Atlantic
www.theatlantic.com/.../2013/06/the-gay-guide-to-wedded-bliss/309317Research finds that same-sex unions are happier than heterosexual marriages. What can gay and lesbian couples teach straight ones about living in harmony?
Relationships & Family - How To Information eHow
www.ehow.com/relationshipsTake your career to new heights. Our expert advice will help you land a job, navigate complicated work situations, get a raise or promotion or jumpstart a new career.
Carotenoids and Skin - YouBeauty.com - YouBeauty - The
www.youbeauty.com/nutrition/carotenoidsIts not exactly earth-shattering news that fruits and vegetables are good for you, but the truth is, many of us (you know who you are) still dont eat as healthy ...
0 comments:
Post a Comment