Why Your Doctor Wants You to Marry a Happy Person

A new study by the American Psychological Association tracked 1,981 middle-aged married couples over six years and reached surprising conclusions. Researchers found that those whose partners were 'naturally happy people' were more likely to report good health. This correlation was found regardless of the individual's own happiness levels.

"This finding significantly expands our assumptions regarding the relationship between happiness and health, pointing to a unique social link," says William Chopik, a psychology professor at Michigan State University and the lead researcher in the study. "The very fact that your partner is happy can improve your health just as much as efforts to be happy yourself."

Previous research had already found that happy people are generally healthier, but this study focused, as mentioned, on the interpersonal effects of joy. The researchers suggest three potential reasons why a happy person improves their partner's health:

• Happy partners likely provide stronger social support compared to gloomy partners who are probably more focused on their own stressors.
• Happy partners can encourage less cheerful partners to engage in activities that promote good health—regular sleep, physical exercise, healthy nutrition.
• A happy person makes their partner's life easier, even if they don't necessarily make them happier.

"Knowing that their partner is satisfied with their life can curb an individual's need to seek destructive outlets like drinking or drugs, and provides a kind of satisfaction that promotes good health," explains Professor Chopik.