Successful marriage is the most effective form of social support.It
relieves the effects of stress,and leads to better mental and physical health.
Husbands seem to benefit much more from marriage then wives do.Married women
are in better physical and mental health,and are happier than single women,but
these effects are nearly twice as great for men.Various explanations have been
considered,but the most plausible is that wives provide more social support
than husbands.Perhaps men need it more?
They are more exposed to stresses at work,and have worse health and die
earlier then women.In addition,when women get married,their way of life is
subject to much greater change and this often leads to boring and isolated work
in the home for which they are ill-prepared.Despite the benefits of marriage
women find it stressful and in better shape if they
also have jobs,their earnings and status increase their power in the home,
and they may also get social support at work.