Here comes the... less stressed? Single people more stressed than married couples

A brand new study out of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh has found that those who are married have lower stress levels than those who are single. Published in Psychoneuroendocrinology, researchers found that married individuals have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol than those who never married or were previously married. These findings prove that marriage actually does positively impact psychological stress of people. "It’s is exciting to discover a physiological pathway that may explain how relationships influence health and disease," said Brian Chin, a Ph.D. student in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences’ Department of Psychology in a statement. The study tested the saliva of 572 healthy adults ages 21-55. The results showed that those who are single, widowed, or had been previously married had higher levels of the hormone in their saliva and the decline of stress levels took longer than those who are married.

A brand new study out of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh has found that those who are married have lower stress levels than those who are single.


Published in Psychoneuroendocrinology, researchers found that married individuals have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol than those who never married or were previously married.

These findings prove that marriage actually does positively impact psychological stress of people.

"It’s is exciting to discover a physiological pathway that may explain how relationships influence health and disease," said Brian Chin, a Ph.D. student in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences’ Department of Psychology in a statement.

The study tested the saliva of 572 healthy adults ages 21-55.

The results showed that those who are single, widowed, or had been previously married had higher levels of the hormone in their saliva and the decline of stress levels took longer than those who are married.