The secret to aging gracefully may be finding that special someone to spend your life with — especially if you’re a man. New research suggests the key to living with vigor and vitality appears to lie in the most fundamental of human bonds: marriage.
A groundbreaking study published in the journal International Social Work has uncovered a remarkable connection between marital status and “successful aging” among older adults. Specifically, the findings reveal that for men, the protective effects of marriage are truly remarkable, with married or recently married respondents up to nearly four times more likely to achieve optimal physical, mental, and social well-being compared to their single peers.
“Little is known about the relationship between marital trajectories in old age and successful aging,” explains lead author Mabel Ho, a recent doctoral graduate at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (FIFSW) and the Institute of Life Course and Aging, in a media release. “Our goal was to see whether different marital trajectories were associated with physical health and well-being, and whether these relationships varied for men and women.”
The study’s expansive definition of “successful aging” went well beyond just physical fitness, also encompassing freedom from serious mental illness, adequate social support, and a sense of subjective well-being. The results were striking – 70% of the 7,641 older Canadians surveyed were aging optimally according to this comprehensive measure. However, marital status emerged as a crucial differentiating factor, particularly for men.
“Previous studies have shown that marriage is associated with better health outcomes for both men and women, while men who were never married generally had the poorest health outcomes,” notes David Burnes, Professor and Canada Research Chair at FIFSW. “It may be that married people encourage each other to adopt or maintain positive health behaviors such as quitting smoking or exercising regularly.”
Married or recently married men were up to nearly 4 times more likely to achieve optimal physical, mental, and social well-being compared to their single peers. (credit: FORMAT arw on Unsplash)
Intriguingly, the researchers did not find the same strong link between marital trajectories and successful aging for women. The only exception was that women who transitioned from married to unmarried status (through divorce, separation, or the death of their spouse) were significantly less likely to age optimally compared to their never-married peers.
Ho explains that women tend to have broader social support systems and more experience maintaining their health and well-being independently, even when going through major life changes.
Marriage may not be a magic bullet, but the researchers note that their findings suggest it provides an important protective effect, especially for men, that society can’t afford to overlook. Ultimately, the study points to the crucial need for tailored, gender-specific approaches to supporting older adults through life’s inevitable transitions. Whether it’s grief counseling for those navigating widowhood or programs to foster social engagement for the unmarried, the message is clear: the secret to graceful aging may lie not just in our own hands but in the hands of those we hold dearest.