WASHINGTON — It’s hard to imagine an unhappy marriage could lead to anything good, but bad marriages might actually benefit men with diabetes.
A Michigan State University study used data from the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project on surveys of married couples from 2005 to 2006 and 2010 to 2011 that show men with “negative marital quality” are less likely to develop diabetes and they are better able to manage the condition if it does develop.
The National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago conducted the surveys that were used in the recent MSU study.
“The study challenges the traditional assumption that negative marital quality is always detrimental to health,” the lead investigator of the federally-funded research said in a news release.
MSU associate professor of sociology Hui Liu and her co-authors analyzed samples from these surveys, focusing on 1,228 respondents, with 389 of them being diabetic, between the ages of 57 to 85.
Some of the aspects of marriage quality surveyed were perceived closeness in relationship, happiness within the marriage, emotional satisfaction, how much free time spent with a spouse and spousal communication.
“Sometimes, nagging is caring,” Liu said.
She said she believes wives who constantly regulate their husband’s health behaviors might annoy their spouses while actually helping them lead healthier lives.
Also, the study shows women’s likelihood of developing diabetes is lower when in happy marriages.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 29.1 million people in the U.S. live with diabetes.
Liu’s study was first published online this week for the “Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences.”
