Benefits of Marriage, Part 1: Emotional

Many people grow up dreaming of the day they’ll find their perfect partner. Whether you’ve watched romantic movies, listened to sappy love songs or just witnessed devoted couples in everyday life, it may still surprise you to find out that entering into a lifetime partnership with someone has a plethora of emotional benefits.

1. It fights depression

Did you know that getting hitched can actually reduce your chance of developing depression? It’s true! Married couples report less depression and more support from their partners than their single counterparts, according to an article in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior. When you think about it, this makes sense — after all, having someone trustworthy to talk to about our most intense feelings and emotions can have a huge effect on how we deal with them.

2. It’s a mood enhancer

Despite the common joke that marriage is stress-inducing, studies show that married couples produce lower levels of “stress hormones” like cortisol, resulting in less anxiety and stress and, consequently, better moods for all those involved. This feel-good effect even extends to children who are being raised within married families.

3. It increases social support

If you’re worried that getting married will result in fewer friendships, think again. An article in The Journals of Gerontology discussed how older married couples actually have more of a sense of community than those who are simply cohabiting. In addition, another study concluded that married mothers receive more social support than both single and cohabiting mothers.

4. It reduces rates of addiction

A study done by Dr. Walter Forrest and Professor Carter Hay on marijuana use found that those who went on to marry were “less likely to have continued using the drug than those who remained single.” Apparently, tying the knot results in increased self-control, leading to a reduction of alcohol- and drug-related problems and dependence.

5. It leads to better intimacy

It’s no surprise that marriage promotes intimacy, but what you may not be aware of is that married couples seem to have no trouble bringing this closeness into the bedroom. The 1992 National Health and Social Life survey supports the finding that married men report more satisfaction in their sex lives than single men.

6. It makes you happier

There’s no doubt about it: Married couples report being happy far more often than unmarried or divorced people do. The National Opinion Research Center surveyed 35,000 men and women and discovered that while only 24% of single people reported they were “very happy,” 40% of those married felt ecstatic in their everyday lives.

Want to learn more about the benefits of marriage? Check back on The Loupe for more helpful blogs to get you ready for the next step in your relationship. You can also follow Shane Co. on social media (@shanecompany) or visit our website to quench your thirst for everything bridal.