Excerpt:

Young adults who get and stay married do have higher levels of well-being than those who remain single. In addition, while men who become married report less depression, women who become married report fewer alcohol problems.

American Psychological Association

Horwitz, Allan V. White, Helene Raskin Howell-White, Sandra

Horwitz, A. V., White, H. R., & Howell-White, S. (1996). Becoming married and mental health: A longitudinal study of a cohort of young adults. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 58(4), 895-907.

Despite the assumption that marriage enhances psychological well-being little evidence exists that the social role of marriage rather than the characteristics of individuals who get married accounts for the benefits of marriage. The authors used a sample of 829 men and women who either remained unmarried or got married and remained married over a 7-yr period to examine whether after controlling for premarital rates of disorder, marriage enhances mental health. The Ss had been tested between 1985 and 1987 and again between 1992 and 1994 when they were 25, 28, and 31 yrs of age. The authors also examined whether or not females derive more mental health benefits from marriage than males. Results indicate that, with controls for premarital rates of mental health, young adults who get and stay married do have higher levels of well-being than those who remain single. In addition, while men who become married report less depression, women who become married report fewer alcohol problems. Thus, when both male-prevalent and female-prevalent outcome measures are used both men and women benefit from marriage.