Marriage vs. Single Life: Global Studies Reveal Health and Mortality Differences

MEXICO CITY (apro).— An international compilation of studies conducted between 2023 and 2025 reveals that marital status correlates with variations in mortality risks and overall well-being. A meta-analysis involving over 7.8 million individuals, carried out by Yafeng Wang, Mark Woodward, and an international team, showed that individuals who are unmarried, divorced, or widowed face higher mortality rates due to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and overall mortality compared to their married counterparts.

The findings were published in the journal Global Health Research and Policy by BioMed Central and also shared on ResearchGate. The study reported that unmarried men had a significantly higher risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases than unmarried women, suggesting that social support and economic differences may play a role in these outcomes.

Additionally, a systematic review and meta-analysis found on PubMed, titled Marital Status and Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases, reviewed 34 studies involving more than two million participants, which concluded that individuals without a partner—whether never married, divorced, or widowed—had a higher likelihood of suffering from cardiovascular diseases compared to those who were married.

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The researchers emphasized that age, gender, and the duration of the marital relationship could alter the strength of these observed associations.

Overall, current evidence suggests that marital status is linked to mortality and cardiovascular risk, although the researchers caution that these effects may be mediated by lifestyle and social factors, rather than marriage itself.

Living Together and Other Forms of Union Display Intermediate Patterns

Recent demographic studies in Europe and Oceania indicate that non-marital cohabitation is associated with intermediate mortality levels between those who are married and those who are single or widowed.

Longitudinal analyses suggest that the stability of the relationship, rather than its legal status, might be a significant factor in health outcomes.

Divorce and Widowhood: Short-term and Long-term Effects

Prospective studies in Australia and the United Kingdom indicate that separation, divorce, or widowhood are linked to changes in psychological health and self-perceived well-being.

In the months following a breakup, increases in depressive symptoms were observed, along with changes in health behaviors, with some recovery noted in subsequent years, according to reports published between 2021 and 2023.

Mental Health and Well-being: Mixed Outcomes

Multinational longitudinal studies document that marriage tends to be associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms, though the effects can vary by gender and cultural context.

Other studies indicate that well-being levels rise in the months leading up to marriage and stabilize afterward, suggesting a dynamic relationship between marital status and mental health.

Aging and Longevity

In older adults, married individuals show a lower risk of mortality compared to those who are single, divorced, or widowed.

The authors of these studies suggest that emotional support and shared resources within a partnership can play a crucial role in health during aging.

Inconsistent Results: Dementia and Obesity

Not all health indicators favor marriage.

A cohort study published in 2025 found a lower risk of dementia in unmarried individuals compared to married ones, while research presented at a European conference that same year observed a higher probability of obesity in married men compared to single men.

Researchers emphasize that these findings should be interpreted with caution and need confirmation in peer-reviewed research.

Studies agree that health differences by marital status do not prove direct causality but show associations influenced by economic factors, support networks, pre-existing health conditions, and cultural contexts.

International research conducted between 2021 and 2025 provides extensive evidence but with heterogeneous results depending on the country, age, and gender.