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The Family Life Cycle 377

random targets. Why do you think this particular pattern exists? Why do you think it is
Watch on MySocLab
changing? Video: Is Marriage Good
For a surprising effect of marriage—that it helps people live longer—look at the for Your Health?
Down-to-Earth Sociology box below.

Down-to-Earth Sociology

Health Benefits of Marriage: Living Longer

A n old joke goes like this. FIGURE 12.4 Health Benefits of Marriage
JOE: Do married people really
live longer?
MARY: Not really. Marriage is so boring 100% Married and
that it just seems like it. Stayed Married
Jokes about marriage aside, marriage 95%
brings health benefits, and the married Currently
really do live longer than the unmar- Remarried
ried. This has been observed since the Survival 90% Ever Married
1800s and confirmed in study after study.
Look at Figure 12.4 to see the results
of recent research. The follow-up years 85% Never Married
shown on this figure began at age 18.
From this figure, you can see that
marriage’s greatest health benefits go to 80%
those who marry and stay married, but 0 5 10 15 20 25
that getting remarried is also highly ben- Years Followed Up
eficial for health. Both those who remain
Note: Based on the University of North Carolina Alumni Heart Study, follow-up research on
married and those who remarry and
a cohort of 4,802 men and women.
Source: Siegler et al. 2013.

stay married live considerably longer. Getting divorced and
staying single shortens life, but even though marriage ends
in divorce, it adds years to people’s lives. As you can see, the
worst for health is never getting marred. At each age, people
who remain single all of their lives are the most likely to die.
Why does marriage help people live longer? Beyond
practical matters, such as husbands and wives encourag-
ing one another to exercise and eat regularly, the primary
reason seems to be social support. The married have some-
one significant to help them get through the problems of
everyday life. The touches, kisses, sex, reassurances, and
encouragements are good for health.

For Your Consideration

With more people staying single longer, how do you think this
↑
might affect the data shown in Figure 12.4? How about cohabita-
tion? Singles also develop social support systems. Why do you
think they fall so short when compared with the social support of
marriage?
Among the health benefits of marriage is a longer life.