Couples and health: why relationship quality matters
Social ConnectionKey points
- Meta-analysis of 126 studies: marital quality is linked to better health.
- The effect is small but comparable to some health habits.
- High-conflict relationships are linked to worse health.
- Support, respect and time together are the foundation of healthy relationships.
What the research shows
A meta-analysis of 126 studies with more than 72,000 participants found that higher marital quality was linked to better health, including lower risk of death, with small effect sizes similar to those of some diet and exercise behaviors (Robles et al., 2014).
Touch and support
Social support and affection buffer the effects of stress: in a cold-virus study, hugs and perceived support reduced the risk of getting sick during interpersonal conflict (Cohen et al., 2015). Strong social relationships overall are linked to longer life (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010).
What sustains relationships
- Showing appreciation regularly.
- Listening and responding to your partner’s needs.
- Arguing constructively and repairing afterward.
- Spending regular quality time together.
- Seeking help early if problems persist.
Frequently asked questions
Does marriage itself make you healthier?
Being in a high-quality relationship matters more than marital status. Unhappy marriages are linked to worse health.
What predicts lasting relationships?
Research points to responsiveness, appreciation, constructive conflict and shared positive experiences.
Sources
- Robles et al. (2014). Marital quality and health: A meta-analytic review.. Psychological Bulletin 140(1):140-187. doi:10.1037/a0031859
- Holt-Lunstad et al. (2010). Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review. PLoS Medicine 7(7):e1000316. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316
- Cohen et al. (2015). Does Hugging Provide Stress-Buffering Social Support? A Study of Susceptibility to Upper Respiratory Infection and Illness. Psychological Science 26(2):135-147. doi:10.1177/0956797614559284
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