Living with someone reduces the chances of depression, getting an education

They were portrayed as complacent and insufferable by Bridget Jones’s Diary, but research suggests that cohabiting couples may have something going for them. break: they have a lower risk of depression than singletons.

A large-scale study involving more than 100,000 people across seven countries adds weight to previous research showing that getting married or in a “marital” relationship can bring health benefits.

While the researchers aren’t advocating for a way to avoid depression, they say personal circumstances and broader social conditions also play a big role in mental health, saying their research can help inform strategies to deal with this situation in society.

“The study highlights the importance of developing culturally relevant interventions and support systems to address the high prevalence of depression among singles, particularly those with high risk profiles who based on nationality, sex and education,” said Dr Kefeng Li, co-author. research from Macao Polytechnic University, China.

Writing in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, the team report how they first analyzed data from 106,556 participants in seven countries – including China, the UK, the US, Indonesia and South Korea – of whom 22,490 reported that they have symptoms of depression.

After taking into account factors such as age, sex, education, smoking status, weight and health conditions, the team found that people who did not live with a partner were more likely to of 86% of experiencing depression than those who did.

“Participants who are single but cohabiting were considered to be ‘critical’ in this study,” said Li. The study did not look at the effect of unstable relationships.

The odds were higher regardless of whether single people were single (79% more likely to experience depression than married people), divorced or separated (99% greater), or were widowed (64% greater).

The group said that this association is stronger in Western countries among men, and among people with higher levels of education. They suggest that this may be due to cultural differences in how stress is tolerated, women have larger and stronger social support networks, and people the more educated may have greater pressures and demands.

The team also enrolled 20,865 participants from five countries and followed them for four to 18 years.

In total, 4,486 participants reported developing symptoms of depression, and the analysis reveals that alcohol consumption may be the reason why single people have a higher risk of depression – at least in China, Mexico and South Korea – by smoking something that is possible in China and Mexico. .

The team says these results may be linked to married adults having lower rates of alcohol and tobacco use.

The researchers also say that marriage can bring benefits through better access to economic resources, social support and partners who have a positive influence on each other’s psychological well-being.

However, the study has limitations, including its reliance on self-reported depressive symptoms, the inclusion of only heterosexual couples, and the way it is institutionalized.

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after the news release

“It does not prove that not being married directly causes depression or that being married can prevent or treat depression,” said Li, adding that the quality of the marital relationship also is important but was not considered in the study.

Dr Veronica Lamarche of the University of Essex, who was not involved in the study, said previous research had revealed the health benefits of being in a relationship compared to being single.

However, he added that the quality of the relationship is important. Indeed, a recent study has shown that marital conflict can damage mental health.

“Importantly, this [study] it shouldn’t be seen as a motivation to go out and get married for the sake of it,” Lamarche said.

“There is a growing body of research that shows that people who are single by choice and feel comfortable in that state of life show similar health outcomes to people who are in a relationship.

“People get just as many health and wellness benefits from their relationships with close friends and family as they do from their spouses. The important issue here is not ‘married’ v ‘not married’, but the quality of the relationships we cultivate.”