I have to admit that this finding surprised me. We all hear that diet and exercise are beneficial to physical health and life longevity…but marriage benefits these things too?? Yes, this is what the Center on Marriage and Families at the Institute for American Values found.  These are some of their findings:

• Children who live with their own two married parents enjoy better physical health, on average, than do children in other family forms.
• Parental marriage is associated with a sharply lower risk of infant mortality.
• Marriage is associated with reduced rates of alcohol and substance abuse for both adults and teens.
• Married people, especially married men, have a longer life expectancy than do otherwise similar singles.
• Marriage is associated with better health and lower rates of injury, illness, and disability for both men and women.

Let’s Think About This

When I think about it, my wife has kept me from doing some rather dangerous things and encouraged me to live a safer, healthier lifestyle. So, in some cases that could be a huge factor for why some couples have a longer life expectancy than singles.  There is a mutual encouragement and concern for each other. 

Perhaps that is why God, when he looked at Adam said “It is not good that man be alone” and why the author of Ecclesiastes wrote: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.  If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.  Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

There is strength, caring, and support that husband and wife give to one another. Of course, the third strand makes the union even stronger.  We interpret this to be Jesus who, is the heart and center of Christian marriage and relationships.  The good news is that He not only gives us life here but promises us eternal life and an eternity where all physical ailments and even death will be no more.