Forget massages, hot baths and soothing music - the key to beating stress is as simple as a happy marriage. Research shows that being in a loving relationship makes it easier to cope with the stresses and strains of working life.
Contrary to the popular perception that single people have a carefree lifestyle, it is those who are in long-term relationships who are most laid back. The UK Daily Mail reports that Dr Roxane Gervais, a psychologist at the Health and Safety Laboratory, monitored the stress levels of more than 400 nurses working in Yorkshire hospitals. She found that those who were married, or in a steady relationship, were least affected by the strains of the job. According the newspaper:
The study is far from the first to show that marriage is good for health. Previous research has shown that those who marry are far more likely to live longer than those who never tie the knot. This could be because people who are married take better care of themselves, perhaps because they feel they have more to live for. They also benefit from the added support and from expanding their network of friends.
The break-up of a marriage, however, has the opposite effect, with women who divorce being 50 per cent more likely to develop heart disease in later life than those who stay married.
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