Being single 'worse than smoking'

BBC News ^ | 15 August 2002

[JediGirl]

The health benefits of being married are so large that single men are at greater risk of dying than smokers, says a study.

The study looked at comparative risks over a seven year period - but experts warned that the lifetime risks of smoking were much higher.

Scientists have frequently found that married men and women tend to be in better health than their single counterparts.

This is partly because of the "social support" of having a wife or husband - and perhaps because both single men and women have a worse lifestyle - and no-one to look out for their wellbeing.

However, the latest study, by researchers at the University of Warwick, looked at thousands of records from the British Household Panel Survey and the British Retirement Survey.

It found that, even when the effects of smoking, drinking and other poor lifestyles were taken into account, married men had a much lower risk of death.

Over a seven year period, the married male had a 9% lower risk of dying compared with an unmarried one.

When smoking and drinking in this group was taken into account, the benefit was reduced to 6.1%.

Not money

The effect was less for women - reducing the risk of mortality by 2.9%.

According to the Warwick calculations, a male smoker had a 5.8% greater risk of dying, and a female smoker 5.1% extra risk.

Professor Andrew Oswald, who led the research, suggested that male smokers should get wed as soon as possible to counteract the risk.

He said: "Forget cash. It is as clear as day from the data that marriage, rather than money, is what keeps people alive.

"It makes perfect sense to ask how a ring of gold can possibly do this.

"But the honest answer is, that we don't know."

However, while over a seven year period, the risks of smoking compared to single life might be roughly comparable, the lifetime risk to smokers is much higher.

A long-term smoker is thought to have a one in two chance of dying prematurely.

Whether the lifetime risk of being single even begins to approach this figure is highly dubious.

[alpowolf]

I have no fear of that myself. When you're ugly as I am you get thrown out of the net, generally.

When I see the terrible things that our government does to brainwash our children I think it's just as well I haven't fathered any. I certainly wouldn't live longer.

[MadIvan]

I have no fear of that myself. When you're ugly as I am you get thrown out of the net, generally.

Oh dear. You just made a statement that will make the women go "Awwwww".

Sorry mate, the women are going to gang up on you, marry you off and you'll be living in a suburb and driving a minivan before you know it.

Regards, Ivan

[Libloather]

Since the divorce, stress levels have gone to zero and I've quit smoking. I could drop tomorrow, but it'll be with a smile on my face...

[Destructor]

What a bunch of bull! Every man knows that women give you heart trouble!!

[otterpond]

married men had a much lower risk of death.

Excuse me? I'd say the probability of all of us dying is about 100%, married or single.

[JoeGar]

How long will it be before some bottom-feeding trial lawyer files a class action suit, on behalf of single males, suing single females for not marrying them?

[Inge_CAV]

"Well there's only one woman who can tie me down at present."

The longer you make her wait the more you will suffer once you do marry her. She has to listen to her mother ask her every day when she is going to find a man. The delay will cost you ....... : )

[MadIvan]

The longer you make her wait the more you will suffer once you do marry her. She has to listen to her mother ask her every day when she is going to find a man. The delay will cost you ....... : )

I am about 99.999% sure this is not the case with her. Most of the time, I think, her mother is about 5000 miles away, on average. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[wku man]

You nailed it, bro. I had a finacee who wanted to get another credit card so we could take a vacation. I had nixed the vacation idea because I was socking every spare cent into...that right, paying off my debts. We single guys may die sooner, but we die in the black.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[Inge_CAV]

You will not find out until the knot is tied. : )

[MadIvan]

You will not find out until the knot is tied. : )

You're really fast forwarding into the future. As I say, she barely knows me at all. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[grania]

We probably shouldn't be identifying ourselves in the open as bachelors. The women on here may not like the fact that we're not tied down and seek to change it.

Uhhh...and what about the men on here that would not like the fact that we're not tied down and seek to change it?....

[B Knotts]

Oh and a Windows based PC is nothing in comparison to the complexity of the female mind. ;)

Quote of the day nominee!

[steve-b]

Well there's only one woman who can tie me down at present.

TMI, dude.

[Inge_CAV]

Pop the question and get the show on the road. She has a lot of preparations to make. : )

It is always nice to see a Wedding Announcement on FR!

[JediGirl]

Well, my wedding is on Saturday and I'll have a thread with pics up probably later Saturday or the next evening.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

But anyway, I suspect this study was done by married men who want to feel better about their lot in life.

I wholeheartedly agree.

It's the duty of married men to brag about how great marriage is to our single friends. Misery loves company. On your wedding day, all your married uncles will laugh at you. This is why.

[Inge_CAV]

Congratulations! This is good news! ;~)

Looking forward to the pics!

[JediGirl]

Looking forward to the pics!

Tee-hee. Hopefully y'all will enjoy my very non-traditional outfit. It's a very informal wedding, so I won't be in a dress, but in a brown suede skirt and beige top with a long suede trenchcoat-esque jacket.

[MadIvan]

Pop the question and get the show on the road. She has a lot of preparations to make. : )

What part of "she barely knows me" escaped your notice?

I was right, you women are anxious for us single blokes to get married off! ;)

Regards, Ivan