Sixth, cohabitors generally do not reap the physical health
benefits enjoyed by married couples. Non-married people feel
less healthy and have higher rates of mortality than the marriedabout 50 percent higher among women and 250 percent higher
among men. In addition, cohabiting, especially with serial
partners, greatly increases the possibility of acquiring one or
more sexually transmitted diseases.
Whereas cohabitors live in noncommitted relationships that
value independence, marrieds promise to care for each other "in
sickness and in health." There are many mental and physical
health benefits of knowing there is another person who will take
care of you when you cannot take care of yourself.
Compared to singles, married people as a group are also
emotionally happier. Married couples are better connected to the
larger community, including inlaws and church members who
provide social and emotional support and material
benefits. Although cohabitors may seem to gain some of the
emotional benefits of marriage, in general, they are no better off
than singles. Because cohabiting relationships are short-lived,
any emotional health benefits last for a relatively short time.
Only about 60 percent of cohabiting relationships end in
marriage, so if the couple breaks up rather than marries, the
benefits are lost at a high emotional cost similar to what people
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