People who never married were almost three times as likely to die early than those who had been in a stable marriage throughout their adult life, US researchers found.
Not equivalent statements. If 1% of the married people die, but 3% of the unmarried die, then the unmarried are 3 times as likely to die. On the other hand for married people to be three times more likely to survive, then at least two-thirds of the unmarried would have to die so you have a 33% unmarried survival rate and a 99% married survival rate. Any higher and you would need a greater than 100% survival rate of the married people.
Good analysis — an important distinction. Are there no numerate journalists?
Um, excuse me, but could you please not bring reality into this?