Long-term, committed relationships are good for mental and physical health and the benefits increase over time, according to a new analysis.
Dr John Gallacher, a reader in primary care, and David Gallacher, from Cardiff University, made their conclusions in an editorial published by student BMJ after examining a variety of studies.
They say that on average married people live longer and that women in committed relationships have better mental health, while men in committed relationships have better physical health, probably because of their partner’s positive influence on their lifestyle.
“The mental bonus for women may be due to a greater emphasis on the importance of the relationship,” they write.
But relationships in adolescence are associated with increased adolescent depressive symptoms and there is also evidence that single people have better mental health than those in strained relationships.
Having numerous partners is also linked with a risk of earlier death.
The authors conclude that while relationship failures can harm health, it is not a reason to avoid them.
“The take home message is simple. Exclusive and supportive relationships confer substantial mental and physical health benefits that grow over time,” they write.
“Although failure of a relationship can harm health, that is an argument for avoiding a bad relationship rather than not getting into a relationship at all.”
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