Men In Unhappy Marriages Experience Slower Development Of Diabetes

An unhappy marriage may slow the development of diabetes in men, according to a new study conducted by Michigan State researchers.

Researchers claim that men in unsatisfying marriages may also experience a more successful treatment if they do eventually get diabetes.

The study showcases data from 1,228 surveys given to couples who had been married at least 5 years and ranged in age from 57 to 85..

One possible explanation proposed by researchers is that wives constantly regulate their husband’s lifestyle choices - especially eating habits or lack of physical activity. While this regulation may result in better health for their husbands, it could be viewed as an annoyance that contributes to a troubled marriage.

"The study challenges the traditional assumption that negative marital quality is always detrimental to health," said Hui Liu, lead investigator of the study. "It also encourages family scholars to distinguish different sources and types of marital quality. Sometimes, nagging is caring."

Healthy body or healthy marriage?

Another way in which scientists believe an unpleasant marriage can be linked to slower rates of developing diabetes is the process of monitoring blood sugar levels. Because this process involves constant checking, wives may nudge their husbands to do so day after day, which increases the men's health but can cause stress to the marriage over time.

"Since diabetes is the fastest growing chronic condition in the United States, implementation of public policies and programs designed to promote marital quality should also reduce the risk of diabetes and promote health and longevity,” said Liu.

Source: Michigan State University