Is Marriage Good for You?

August 6, 1998
Remember the old joke between Sigmund Freud and Woody Allen? As they are sitting in a bar, the filmmaker asked the psychoanalyst: "Is it true that married people live longer than nonmarried people?" "No," says his companion, "it only seems longer."

Well, the joke's on them. Married people do live longer and live better. That's the results of hundreds of research studies that Glenn Stanton has collected in his new book Why Marriage Matters. Contrary to the rhetoric of liberals, feminists and academics, marriage is a safe and sound institution the brings lots of benefits.

For example, married people are less likely to be alcoholics. One study found that 70 percent of chronic problem drinkers were either divorced or separated. And it was found that even when married people were alcoholics, they suffered less. They reported lower levels of depression and anxiety, and better psychological well being.

Married people are also less likely to commit suicide. One of the first documented studies on this was done by Emile Durkein in 1897. And for the last 101 years, study after study has confirmed this initial findings.

Married people also have a more positive well being and better mental health than their unmarried counterparts. The morbidity rates are lower and they tend to live longer and with better health, both physical and mental health.

And finally married people have a better sex life. That was one of the shocking revelations from the Redbook study done more than 20 years ago. Since that time, various studies have confirmed that married people have the best sex.

These studies show the fallacy of our popular culture's derision of marriage and the promotion of a single, so-called carefree lifestyle. Marriage is good for the individual, good for the children, and good for society.

I'm Kerby Anderson of Probe Ministries, and that's my opinion.

© 1998 Probe Ministries International