I knew...that's why I'm waiting! That's right ladies and gentlemen I am waiting for marriage, not only because God says it is right but it was honestly the best gift I could have given myself...I will reveal why later but for now the studies show:
Married couples not only live longer, but they also enjoy better health.
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Why marriage is good for your health
Written by Anita Naik, health journalist
Kate Middleton and Prince William (and any other couples looking at tying the knot this year) can hopefully look forward to a life of marital bliss, with some excellent health beneļ¬ts thrown in.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that married couples not only live longer, but they also enjoy better health and can rely on more homecare in old age than their divorced, widowed, single and cohabiting peers.
We look at how saying 'I do' can affect your life for the better.
The marriage factor
A study in the US
The National Longitudinal Mortality Study (NLMS), which has been tracking more than a million American subjects since 1979, showed that married woman are 20 per cent less likely to die of a variety of causes, including ovarian cancer and cirrhosis of the liver. While married men enjoy an even greater benefit because they are three times less likely to die early than their bachelor friends.
The reason is all down to the fact that being married means better lifestyle habits, a better functioning immune system and someone to nag you to go to the doctor.
'Marriage is sort of like a seat belt when it comes to improving your wellbeing,' says Dr. Linda Waite, a professor of sociology at the University of Chicago
'We can put it in exactly the same category as eating a good diet, getting exercise and not smoking.'
What are the health benefits?
A longer life
As long as you're getting hitched to Mr or Mrs Right, getting married could be a big boost to a longer life.
Statistically studies show marriage prolongs your life, with one study from the University of Chicago
And the longer the relationship the greater the benefit, with research showing that the more anniversaries a couple spend together, the more likely they are to hit the 100 year-old barrier.
Increasing your longevity is all down to the fact married men adopt less risky and more healthy lifestyles than their single counterparts, while women live longer due to improved financial wellbeing and emotional security.
Stave off depression
Wedded bliss can also give you a powerful mental health boost, which means on the whole you'll be less depressed, less anxious and less psychologically distressed than single, divorced or widowed people.
Dr Linda Waite agrees: 'The reason is that marriage often provides couples with a sense of meaning in life, as well as company and a shared aspiration.
'This in turn gives couples a more positive focus as well as a handy cocoon to shelter themselves from the ''big nasty world'' outside.'
Keep happy
Marriage has been shown to increase general happiness. Overall, 40 per cent of married people, compared with just 25 per cent of single people, say they are happy with their life.
The survey, led by Professor Andrew Oswald at the University of Warwick
The reason why your nuptials can make you happy is simply that getting married fulfils what we all need in order to be happy – someone to take an interest in us, to look after us and someone to prioritise our needs.
If we feel we are the most important person to at least one other person (and vice versa) then we're guaranteed to be happy.
Stay relaxed
Even if you're in the throes of stress-related wedding hysteria the good news is once you're married you can look forward to lower stress levels for life.
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in America
Meaning, as a married couple you are better equipped to handle what life throws at you because you have someone to share your worries with.
'Within a happy marriage, you literally have twice the resources – financial, practical and emotional – of a single person,' says relationship counselor Joy Kirsch.
'This allows you to deal with the issues that stress you out more readily and with support.
I wouldn't know what it's like to really know myself and learn to love myself unconditionally if I didn't wait to receive from God what He has for me. I have friends that married when they were too young and most of them are divorced or raising kids on their own or extremely unhappy. I can think of one woman that I went to high school with that has been happily married for over 3 years…just one. I believe when you have a strong sense of self and know exactly who you are and what you want that your relationships will reflect that. Think of it, you are not the same person that you were when you were in high school! Well at least I’m not and if I would have gotten married when I was younger I’m sure I wouldn’t still be the same person and I’d probably be divorced. I’m more comfortable in my skin, my temperament is totally different, I’m just getting my financial stability as well as my business (now that I’ve just found out what I want to do) and I’m not getting with anyone that doesn’t love Jesus! Do you know why? Because the love of Jesus taught me how to love which is beneficial to my health and Jesus is apart of who I am!
Just some more food for thought!
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