Stay married if you want to be healthy and wealthy in old age

Being financially well off is one of the keys to a longer, healthier life, according to a Government-backed study carried out for the Economic and Social Research Council.

It found that people with less education and wealth are most likely to say they are depressed or to suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity. The study, based on a series of surveys of 12,000 older people, said the effect of such differences can be seen most sharply among those in their 50s and 60s but persists for people of the greatest age.

"Early retirement is generally good for people’s health and well-being unless it has been forced on them,” said researchers.

The findings of this study aren’t particularly surprising as research has previously found a link between affluence and health. Of course, having money doesn’t make you live longer per se, but being financially comfortable means you can afford a healthier lifestyle, such as living in the countryside and eating better quality food.

What this new study could also have found was that the best way to stay wealthy is to stay married. Research carried out three years ago in America revealed the devastating financial toll divorce can take on a person’s wealth – reducing it by about 75 per cent compared to that of a single person. On the other hand, it said, being married almost doubles comparative wealth (93 per cent).

"Divorce causes a decrease in wealth that is larger than just splitting a couple's assets in half," said Jay Zagorsky, author of the study and a research scientist at Ohio State University’s Center for Human Resource Research.

By the same token, married people see an increase in wealth that is more than just adding the assets of two single people. "If you really want to increase your wealth, get married and stay married. On the other hand, divorce can devastate your wealth," Zagorsky said.

In these recession-hit times, staying married makes even more economic sense in many ways.

But, of course, money doesn’t bring happiness and if your relationship is failing, parting with a sizeable chunk of your assets might seem like a small price to pay for your freedom. It is also the case that unhappy people are susceptible to illness – so remaining married purely for the sake of money could have a negative effect on your health.

Nevertheless, you may have a marriage that isn’t great at the moment, but with a little work could be turned around. Knowing that staying married means you’re likely to have more money and better health in old age might give you the incentive you need to improve your relationship.