A recent study that appeared in the British Medical Journal indicates that romantic relationships can be highly beneficial to overall health, so long as partners are chosen carefully. The study, led by researchers from Cardiff University in Wales, included one billion participants from across Europe and found that those in stable relationships had mortality rates fifteen percent lower than the general population’s.
The researchers found that marriage in particular increased both male and female longevity and tended to benefit wives mentally and husbands physically. It was also found that 18- to 25-year-olds involved in romantic relationships experienced better mental, but not physical health. Research also showed that those with several partners tended to have shorter lifespans than those in long-term relationships.
Despite the positive findings on romantic relationships in conjunction with overall health, researchers emphasize that it would be wrong to assume that any kind of romantic relationship is better than being single. In fact, singles enjoyed better mental health than those in strained relationships. Also, breaking up was, unsurprisingly, found to have a negative impact on the physical and mental health of both males and females.
However, the researchers concluded that avoiding relationships at the risk they might go wrong in order to prevent damage to health is not at all advisable. They encourage avoiding bad relationships but affirm that the benefits of a good one far outweigh the drawbacks of a bad one.
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