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How Does Marriage Affect Physical and Psychological Health? A Survey of the Longitudinal Evidence

Chris Wilson (c.m.wilson@lboro.ac.uk) and Andrew Oswald

No 1619, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper examines an accumulating modern literature on the health benefits of relationships like marriage. Although much remains to be understood about the physiological channels, we draw the judgment, after looking across many journals and disciplines, that there is persuasive longitudinal evidence for such effects. The size of the health gain from marriage is remarkable. It may be as large as the benefit from giving up smoking.

Keywords: mortality; health; marriage; happiness; longitudinal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I0 I12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 32 pages
Date: 2005-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-hea and nep-ltv
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (82)

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Working Paper: How Does Marriage Affect Physical and Psychological Health? A Survey of the Longitudinal Evidence (2005) Downloads
Working Paper: How Does Marriage Affect Physical and Psychological Health? A Survey of the Longitudinal Evidence (2005) Downloads
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