Study: Men Who Marry After 25 Have Better Bone Health

Doctors have suggested that being married can be good for your overall mental health, but new research says the benefits might actually go all the way to the bone, at least for men.

Researchers from UCLA found men who marry after age 25 are more likely to have stronger bones compared to singles, divorcees or those married at a younger age.

The same was not found to be the case among women in the study.

At UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, Dr. Carolyn Crandall and her team analyzed data from hundreds of volunteers who participated in a general health study.

Gathered between 1995 and 2005, hip and bone density measurements were among the tests administered for the initial research.

“Men who marry after 25 are more

likely to have stronger bones.”

The test subjects ranged in ages from 25 to 75, from various backgrounds and relationship statuses. With data from 294 men and 338 women, researchers were able to link stronger bone density with those men who had become married at age 25 or older.

Further, men from stable marriages were found to have better bone health next to both singles and those divorced.

“There is very little known about the influence of social factors — other than socioeconomic factors — on bone health,” Crandall said. “Good health depends not only on good health behaviors, such as maintaining a healthy diet and not smoking, but also on other social aspects of life, such as marital life stories and quality of relationships.”

The study points to stress in earlier marriages as one possible reason the same results were not seen among those married prior to age 25.

“Very early marriage was detrimental in men, likely because of the stresses of having to provide for a family,” said study co-author Dr. Arun Karlamangla.

Learn more: counselhealth.com.