Why do people who live together and are not married more depressed than those who are married?

Question

QUOTE: "Married individuals have the lowest rates of severe depression of people in any other marital category. The numbers are as follows (annual rate of depression per 100):(1)

Married (never divorced) 1.5
Never Married 2.4
Divorced Once 4.1
Cohabitating (not married) 5.1
Divorced Twice 5.8

In addition, solid marital relationships may reduce exposure to stressors and provide a source of support during times of difficulties."(2)
END QUOTE

Note the benefits describes do not apply to couples who live together and are not married.

Source(s):
(1) M. Eileen Matlack, MS Mac McGreevy, "Family Correlates of Social Skill Deficits in Incarcerated and Non-incarcerated
Adolescents" Adolescence 29 1994, pp. 117-132
(2) L. Edward Wells and Jespeh H. Rankin, "Familes and Delinquency: A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Broken Homes" Social Problems 33, 1991, pp. 71-89

Dude - Why yes I am, thanks for noticing. I have many more questions before the grand finale (my point). Stay tuned for more fun. =]

Answer 1

You're on a marriage correlation kick, aren't'cha? Correlation doesn't always mean causation -- in fact, it usually doesn't. The only way to know for sure would be to run a big controlled experiment where you have some participants get married, and others not. That would be a difficult experiment.

But just to give an example of the fallacy of equating correlation with causation, drinking imported single-malt whiskey is strongly correlated with high education.

But it isn't that expensive whiskey causes you to get a doctorate -- it's that high income causes both.

Answer 2

I find the opposite. I know 5 unmarried couple, plus a few that I have heard on the T.V. Oprah for instance, and I find them to be the happiest of the bunch. The point is, just like in everything else, we cannot put a group of people in a little box and call them by the same name. There are happy couples who are married and happy couples who are not married. All these statistics about every subject one can imagine, do not mean a thing. Who do they ask? Where do these people lieve? Are they religious? Are they non-religious? Do they have children? Do they not have children?
Do they have a lot of money? Are they poorly off?

etc. etc. etc.

When people make a choice to get married, it is because they want to. They people make a choice Not to get married, it is because they want to..

Statistics don't mean a thing to any of them. We should take individuals as we know them, and not quote statistics.

I think with the divorce rate, with suicides, with broken homes, etc. You could say that marriage isn't working?

Or you could look at it in another direction, and say it is working,

Pick which one you want to believe in.

Answer 3

They are not, and that is just wishful thinking. Unmarried couples that live together do not have a higher rate of depression. It is because of work, life styles, stress, and a lot of other things as well. you can not make a blanket statement, saying that it is because they are not married. How dumb.
I am glad that most married people have no depression, but I do, and have been on antidepressants since I had a hysterectomy in my thirties. My husband is supportive too, but sometimes, body chemical imbalances, can not be stopped.
There are high statistics for divorced couples, being depressed too. Failed marriages,always cause depression. as well.
I appreciate your enthusiasm, but your 'facts' leave much to be desired..

Answer 4

Sorry but that is totally wrong in my case. I am more happy now cohabitating with my boyfriend than I have ever been in my entire life. I would NEVER go back to living with my family. I am FINALLY living, like TRULY living my life and I would not trade it for the entire world. I used to be depressed before I was living with my boyfriend and I highly doubt us getting married will change that either way.

Answer 5

ALSO....

couples you live together before Marriage have a 50% divorce rate compared to Couples you don't live together before marriage...

Answer 6

First of all, only a fool would compare celebrities with 'real people'. Most of Hollywood are an immoral lot compared to most N. Americans. That said, I think you have to look at the health of people to determine who is happier. Unmarried people do not live as long as married people. Even when they compare those of similar health at 30, by 65, many more unmarried people will be dead than married people. Among other things is the lack of health insurance being more common among unmarried couples. That doesn't mean that if you are shacked up together, you will kick off at 65. A wife is more likely to call and make an appointment with the doctor for her stubborn husband who is ill. You don't see that too often with the shack ups. It may seem subtle to you, but there is a definite difference when you see these older couples and those differences mount up.

Answer 7

Hey stop telling people stuff that they don't want to hear!! It is also statistically true that marriages after co-habitation don't usually last very long.

Answer 8

" We all need somebody to lean on," and it helps if that somebody has a vested interest in not walking away from us, such as being committed to the institution of marriage.

Answer 9

Because people who live together are meant to be committed in a covenant relationship - not self-serving in case you want to walk out any time.

Answer 10

It all has to do with sin. When we sin we cut off the presence of God and His blessing on our life. We cannot be totally happy and sinning at the same time.