With that said, finding a partner simply to improve health is not the answer. Instead, look for love and take proactive steps to keep the negative health effects of single life from undermining your health.

Here are some ways being single can affect your health for better or worse:

How Being Single Affects Your Health for the Worse

1. Mental Health

You are more likely to suffer from common neurosis like anxiety and depression because of a sense of isolation. You may feel lonely and vulnerable when you have nobody to talk to about your personal problems, chores, money. In worse case scenarios, single men and women are more likely to suffer from substance abuse issues as well as heart problems. You can get more information here about how alcohol, substance, or prescription drug abuse begins with self-medicating for underlying psychological issues.

As a single person, you may also be stigmatized as someone who is lonely and unhappy. This can lower self-esteem and create depression, especially if family and friends are constantly trying to persuade you to develop a relationship.

Mental health issues can also affect couples who are in a miserable relationship. However, couples who get along well with each other and less likely to feel overwhelmed by life’s challenges as they have someone who can help them navigate a personal crisis.

2. Financial pressures.

On average, single people with regular jobs face more financial challenges than a two-income household who can share expenses. Worrying about how to make ends meet or how to overcome a financial emergency can be a source of tremendous stress and anxiety for a single person.

Financial issues affect couples who live beyond their means. If more money is going out than coming in, then the benefits of two people bringing in more money into the house is nullified. In this case, there may be more arguments about money management.

3. Recovery from serious illnesses.

When a single person has to be hospitalized for an illness, they may not get the care they need after they return home. They are especially at risk for poor recovery if they have had surgery. Even if family or friends try to help through frequent visitation, the single person may still have to do many things on their own unless someone moves in until they recover.

By contrast, a married person will have family around them to carry the burden of household chores and to provide them with companionship and nursing assistance.

How Being Single Affects Your Health for the Better

1. Better weight management.

Married couples tend to be less concerned about maintaining their ideal body weight than single people. Since they are no longer under any kind of pressure to attract a new mate, they are less likely to be concerned about their appearance.

A study by the National Institute of Health (NIH) explains why married people tend to gain more weight than single people:

“Marriage involves social role obligations, which may influence body weight through their effects on dietary intake. Newly cohabiting partners share kitchens and meals, which encourages them to eat more regular and more elaborate meals than they had done prior to their relationship, facilitates their snacking, involves their sharing meals with each other’s communal circles, and often produces dietary convergence. Dietary changes such as these may affect partners’ caloric intakes and body weights.”

2. Single people exercise more.

You’re more likely to exercise regularly if you are single and show a greater interest in eating properly and following a healthy lifestyle. Even married couples who don’t have children are likely to exercise less.

Trends, Not Facts

It’s important to keep in mind that these are trends, not necessarily incontrovertible facts. While there have been many studies done on the health difference between single and married people, these are based on surveys and statistical data. In truth, there are too many variables in personalities and relationships to be able to come up with any conclusive results.

This article was made possible by site supporter Jenna B.