A research team at the University of Buffalo New York just conducted a study on how a person’s relationship status affects their health. Although past research and studies have suggested that being in a relationship can be beneficial to mental and physical health, a recent study introduces a caveat.
Here’s what the experts now conclude: It’s better for someone to be single than to be in a bad relationship.
The subjects of this new study were young adults who were born in two-parent, married families from a rural part of Iowa. Researchers intentionally collected a pool of predominantly single subjects, given the recent trend of rising marriage ages, to best reflect the nature of contemporary, young adult relationships.
All of the subjects were asked questions about their interpersonal relationships with potential partners. They had to answer questions about the quality of their relationships and their behavior both within and outside of the relationship. Other questions included how committed they were while in a relationship, how they handled criticism, and how they engaged with their (potential) partner in regards to support and affection.
Assistant professor of sociology, Ashley Barr, said their research showed that individuals who were in long, healthy relationships – or individuals who more quickly left unhealthy relationships – had better overall health.
Conversely, the longer a person is in a low-quality relationship, the more their health declines.
Thus, it has been scientifically proven that being in a relationship is not necessarily beneficial to our health. The quality of the relationship is more important than the relationship, in and of itself, when determining the positive effect this relationship can have on a person.
If you’re still single, here’s your reason not to leap into the next relationship that comes your way. Take time to think of your health before you leap in.
