Single people are 80 percent more likely to be depressed than those who are married, study suggests

Unmarried people are up to 80 per cent more likely to have depressive symptoms than those who are wed, analysis suggests. Researchers have discovered that saying ‘I do’ appears to have a protective effect against depression, which affects around 16 per cent of adults in the UK The risk of depression Writing in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, researchers said: ‘Depression represents a significant global public health challenge, and marital status has been recognised as a potential risk factor' Across a follow-up period of up to 18 years, they found that being unmarried was linked to a 79 per cent higher risk of depressive symptoms compared to those who are married. The scientists suggest that the lower rates of depressive symptoms among married couples could be due to better social support, being better-off financially and couples having a positive influence on each-other’s wellbeing. ‘This heightened vulnerability emerged especially among single, highly educated males in Western nations.’ They said that across certain countries, drinking alcohol and smoking worsened depressive symptoms across people who were single, widowed or divorced. The scientists suggest that the lower rates of depressive symptoms among married couples could be due to better social support, being better-off financially and couples having a positive influence on each-other’s wellbeing Across a follow-up period of up to 18 years, they found that being unmarried was linked to a 79 per cent higher risk of depressive symptoms compared to those who are married Scientists last year reviewed dozens of studies to examine the differences in suicide, loneliness, physical health and happiness between people who are married and those who are not.