The study, in the form of systematic annual sociological surveys, lasted 15 years and covered 27,000 residents of Great Britain and Australia.
British and Melbourne scientists have joined forces to analyse and compare the impact of long-term partnerships and marriage on the quality of life of men and women of different ages.
How do you measure family happiness?
Traditionally, it was believed that girls strive to get married, while guys feel great as bachelors. Brides dream of stability and a measured life, grooms hope to retain the right to their former entertainment after the wedding.
Scientific findings force us to reconsider views rooted mainly in folklore. The researchers' field of view includes such important life spheres as:
1. health;
2. career growth and income level;
3. social status;
4. relationships with relatives;
5. happiness coefficient.
The idea that long-term relationships significantly improve men's health was confirmed. Those in both official and common-law marriages demonstrated better health than singles.
Married women did not show significant improvement in their health compared to single women.
From a medical point of view, the presence of a permanent partner is not decisive; rather, emotional factors play a role.
The main characteristics considered in the study were metabolic syndrome: high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and respiratory disease.
To provide comparable data, nurses visited lonely patients at home and conducted detailed examinations. The female body showed approximately the same resistance to these diseases, regardless of age-related changes.
Divorce is not contraindicated
Unmarried young people showed encouraging results: the incidence rate was approximately the same as that of their married peers.
Elderly people were 14% more likely to develop heart problems than family people, the risk of premature death increased by 15% every year, and cases of depression were more common.
Indicators of overall life satisfaction are of greatest interest to politicians and public figures. Married old people feel happier significantly more often than their respectable spouses.
Even if the age difference is small, grandmothers, being far from young themselves, are hundreds of times more likely to take care of elderly grandfathers than vice versa.
Divorced men who soon started a new relationship show approximately the same health indicators as those who did not go through the unpleasant procedure of separation from their wife and spent a similar period of time in the family.
An interesting pattern is observed: the longer the marriage, the more negatively the breakup affects well-being.
Those who have been married for 20–30 years are advised to find a soulmate as soon as possible.
Surprisingly, the impact of divorce on women was the opposite, with ladies showing improved well-being and a 31% lower likelihood of developing metabolic syndrome compared to wives in stable relationships.
Housing and career for families and bachelors
Newlyweds achieve the greatest career heights in hired jobs. They are willingly hired and offered management positions.
Both know that they have a reliable rear in case of unemployment, so they are not afraid to take risks and act decisively; the home contributes to a quick recovery.
Free people are attracted to temporary cooperation with large companies and their own clientele.
For those over 50, it makes sense to bet on developing their business, since the chances of finding satisfactory employment are slightly lower than for successful young people.
Couples cope better with the loss of a source of income and adapt to changed circumstances more quickly. Life satisfaction depends not only on marital status, but also on location.
Residents of small towns with a population of 1,000 or less are significantly happier than those living in bustling capitals.
Many people find the outskirts of cities more attractive than business centers and residential areas.
Having a cozy courtyard increases cheerfulness. Singles are more likely to be active and friendly in communicating with neighbors, participate in local events, and enjoy authority. Married couples keep to themselves more.
Those in de facto relationships enjoy them more than those who have tied the knot. It has been noted that teenagers whose mothers worked do not achieve material well-being until they are adults. If one of the spouses became independent before reaching 18-20 years of age, he or she has excellent financial prospects.
Many years of research suggest how best to organize your life in order to achieve long years of prosperity and celebrate golden and diamond weddings together in full health.
Earlier we talked about what psychologists have named habits that lead to poverty .
