Does marriage change you for better or worse?

According to science, getting hitched changes you physically and mentally


Every year thousands and thousands of couples tie the knot. A decision that has lasting effects on their health over time.

Researchers have identified a variety of trends that show how getting married changes people. Historically there has been an idea that marriage is good for your physical and mental health, perhaps due to the concept that having a supportive partner can make a person healthier. But more recent research has revealed that the relationship between marriage, health, and well-being is more complicated, with both benefits and drawbacks.


Good for thy heart

Evidence suggests that married men and women have a lower risk for certain types of heart disease than their single counterparts, but married people are also more likely to be overweight.

Of course, these observed trends don’t hold true for everyone. Every marriage is different, depending on the individuals involved, their relationship, their plans, lifestyles, and more — without counting external factors. And there's much less research on the effects of marriage on same-sex couples so far. But with that in mind, here are some of the ways that marriage tends to affect partners physically and mentally.

Better health

Married people tend to have better overall health than other adults, after taking into account, sex, race, education, income, and other factors. But a large study published last year found those health benefits were mostly observable in older married adults. Among younger adults, married people essentially saw no overall health benefit compared to their unmarried peers.

Kicking the bottle

Married people report better mental health and lower alcohol use, according to a large Canadian public health survey. One recent study found that in the first year of marriage, men tended to become more conscientious.

Why get married

Over time, our understanding of how marriage affects people has changed and become more refined. Some researchers think the reason single people’s health appears to be better now than it used to when compared to married counterparts is that there’s less societal stigma around single lifestyles these days.

Even if marriage is associated with certain health benefits, that alone isn’t enough reason to partner up. Maintaining relationships has been shown to be a key part of lasting wellness.