An Unhappy Marriage Better than Being Single or Divorced
- Times of India
VIVA – Scientists reveal that an unhappy marriage is better for health than being single or divorced. People who live with a spouse are less likely to have high blood sugar levels which can lead to type 2 diabetes, regardless of how harmonious or acrimonious their relationship is, according to research.
Experts believe couples influence each other’s behavior, such as diet, as well as tending to have higher shared income, which can also lead to healthier eating.
Moreover, previous research has found marriage can lead to a host of health benefits including longer life, fewer strokes, and heart attacks, lower risk of depression, and healthier eating than those who are single.
But researchers wanted to hone in on how being in a long-term relationship impacted blood sugar levels, which can be the result of factors including what we eat, hormones, and stress. Then, analyzed data on more than 3,300 adults, aged 50 to 89, from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
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- U-Report
People were asked if they had a husband, wife, or partner with whom they lived, with 76 percent of participants found to be married or cohabiting. They were also asked questions to examine the level of strain and support within the relationship.
The results were then analyzed alongside data gathered from blood samples taken every four years which measured average blood glucose levels, known as HbA1c.
Experts from the University of Carleton, Ottawa, Canada, and the University of Luxembourg found that those who were married or cohabiting had blood sugar levels that average a fifth (21 percent) lower than those who were single, divorced, or bereaved. The same held for both men and women, the results showed.
The quality of the relationship did not make a significant difference to the average levels of blood glucose, which they acknowledge was surprising in light of previous findings suggesting supportive relationships are most beneficial.
However, those who experienced marital transitions, such as divorce also experienced significant changes in their HbA1c levels and odds of pre-diabetes, the condition which often precedes diabetes.
Katherine Ford from Carleton University, Ottawa, who led the study, suggested the relationship showed how people’s health could intertwine in a relationship.
'I would speculate that marriage and cohabitating partnerships require a particular emotional investment over a long period. The salience of this type of relationship likely means that the loss of it may have implications for health, such as average blood sugar levels.' Katherine Ford said.
The findings, published in the BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care journal, relationships could be key to keeping blood sugars down, with any relationship better than none at all.
They suggest increased support for older adults who are going through divorce or bereavement and that relationships should be encouraged in later life, to lower the risk of health problems.
The researchers conclude: 'Overall, our results suggested that marital/cohabitating relationships were inversely related to HbA1c levels regardless of dimensions of spousal support or strain, 'Likewise, these relationships appeared to have a protective effect against HbA1c levels above the pre-diabetes threshold.'
