Marriage's effects on ageing may depend on gender and a person's relationship status and history. A study recently published in the journal International Social Work found that married men age slower than those who do not tie the knot — but the same cannot necessarily be said for women. Also read | Unlocking the secrets of healthy ageing Married men vs married women Overall, the new study showed married men aged more successfully than their never-married peers.
But that’s only if they stay married — separation, divorce and the death of a spouse were likely to have a negative impact. The new findings revealed that married women did not age much differently than their female peers who never married. Those who did get hitched and then unhitched were shown to be at a disadvantage over their married and single friends.
However, never-married women aged more successfully than those who experienced divorce or widowhood, as per the study. Previous research has highlighted the benefits of marriage, including improved physical and mental health, but these studies often failed to account for changes in marital status over time or how these dynamics might differ for men and women. More about the study The study of older Canadians tracked the health and well-being of adults, aged 45 to 85, over a period of 20 years to understand how their marital status impacted their health.
It looked at a list of markers to determine whether or not each participant had aged 'successfully'. The res.
