According to a study out of Brigham Young University, happily married couples have lower blood pressure than their single counterparts. Julianne Holt-Lunstad was one of the researchers.

“Married individuals tended to have greater blood pressure dipping at night than single individuals.”

She says some of the health benefits from marriage have to do with lifestyle.

“You’ve got someone who you can turn to for support when you’re under stress, but you’ve also got someone there to encourage you to go see a doctor when you need to, to get more sleep or eat better.”

Sociologist Brad Wilcox of the University of Virginia sees the benefits too.

“We’re hardwired to connect to people. When you have a good relationship with your wife or your husband and there are regular exchanges of support, just basically it calms your whole body down.”

And marriage helps your mental health according to Psychiatrist Dr. Todd Clements.

“What I see is they tend to have less mood problems. Here again, they may have short-term mood problems but less longer-term mood problems with depression, with anxiety.”

Holt-Lunstad said her next study will determine if healing a damaged marriage can bring health benefits as well.