Marriage improves health and happiness, study finds

A long-term study conducted by researchers in the United States and Japan has revealed that marriage plays a key role in improving overall health, happiness, and emotional peace.

The findings highlight how marital relationships can positively impact both physical and mental well-being.

Marriage linked to better health

According to a medical website, the study was jointly conducted by the University of Michigan in the United States and the Singapore Management University. It concluded that marriage significantly enhances people’s happiness and health levels.

The research analyzed data from nearly 5,000 adults in the U.S. and Japan. Among them, 3,505 were married and 308 were unmarried Americans, while 710 were married and 164 were unmarried Japanese participants.

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Researchers observed that married individuals reported calmer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives compared to those who were unmarried.

Family support drives happiness

The study found that American married participants received greater family support, which directly contributed to their happiness and sense of well-being.

In contrast, unmarried Americans and Japanese participants reported facing social and family pressure, which negatively affected their happiness. Some, however, said they managed to cope without letting such pressures impact their lives significantly.

Unmarried Americans often mentioned feeling lonely and lacking emotional support. Japanese unmarried individuals, on the other hand, tended to manage pressure through personal coping strategies, though many admitted to distancing themselves from family to maintain peace.

Cultural pressures

Interestingly, the study highlighted that in Japan, social expectations surrounding marriage make people more tolerant of family pressure. However, researchers warned that prolonged exposure to such stress may lead to loneliness or regret in later life.

Experts emphasized that while unmarried individuals might experience some benefits similar to those of married people, they still lag behind in terms of social recognition and acceptance.

The study further noted that in Asian societies, especially, unmarried people face more societal challenges due to the lower acceptance of living together without marriage.

Experts said this cultural aspect often adds to the emotional burden of unmarried individuals, reinforcing the perception that marriage remains a central pillar of stability and well-being in many Asian communities.