Unmarried people are much more likely to be depressed [1] than those who are married, major new research suggests.
The risk of depression for unmarried people could be higher in men and those who had more education, the study also found.
The scientists suggest the more cheerful disposition of married couples could be because they are able to socially support one another, have better access to economic resources and have a positive influence on each other’s well-being.
The analysis looked at data from more than 100,000 people across seven countries, including Ireland and the UK.
They found that being unmarried was associated with a 79pc higher risk of depressive symptoms compared to those who are married.
People who were divorced or separated had a 99pc higher risk of showing signs of depression, and people who were widowed had a 64pc higher risk than people who were married.