An article written on U.S. News & World Report online discussed a very interesting study that found an unhappy marriage had worse effects on women’s health than their male counterparts. 
It’s well documented in research that men and women in “strained” marriages (characterized by chronic arguing and anger) are more likely to be depressed than happier partners/couples. Also, research indicates that women in these argumentative and anger-filled relationships are more likely to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar (also known as indicators of Metabolic Syndrome, which is a big leader of various chronic diseases), which increases their likelihood of heart disease.
The researcher, Nancy Henry, a doctoral candidate in clinical healthy psychology at the University of Utah, looked at health and depression when conducting this study. The researcher interviewed 276 couples with questionnaires asking about the positives and the negatives of their marriage and they were asked about depressive issues/symptoms.
Conclusions
The researcher found that:
- Men were just as likely as women to become depressed when in marital strain
- Interestingly, the linking of depression, negativity, and Metabolic Syndrome ONLY applied to women!
The best take-home message I can give is be good to yourself and your body. What you put into your body (i.e. junk food, fruits and veggies, or being in a constant state of stress) or what you do for your body (i.e. exercise, stress-reducing exercises, or not properly dealing with stress) can make or break your health! Do the best thing for you and try to lead the healthiest lifestyle possible. Remember to treat your mind, body, and soul with the utmost respect and partake in activities that will only better your health situation.