Relationship status

SummaryFactor descriptionImpact on all-cause mortalityPatternsKamaLama scoringPractical tipsReferences

Summary

  • A committed long-term relationship can lower all-cause mortality mainly through social support, healthier routines, and lower chronic stress.
  • Across many large cohort studies, married or stably partnered people often show about 10–20% lower all-cause mortality than people who are never-married, divorced/separated, or widowed.
  • Some studies that convert risk differences into time suggest roughly 1–5 years difference in remaining life expectancy between married vs unmarried groups (often larger in men and in people with existing heart disease).
  • Relationship quality matters: supportive, low-conflict partnerships are more protective than high-conflict or unhappy relationships.

Factor description

This factor measures a person’s current romantic relationship status, based on self-report. It captures whether someone is in a committed long-term relationship (including marriage or a stable long-term partnership) versus not in a committed relationship (for example, single, divorced/separated, or widowed). This is a status measure (current situation), not a measure of relationship quality or how socially connected someone feels.

Impact on all-cause mortality

  1. Social support and faster help-seeking
  • Partners often notice symptoms earlier, encourage medical visits, and support medication adherence.
  • This can reduce deaths from treatable conditions and improve recovery after major events (for example, heart disease).
  1. Health behavior pathways
  • On average, partnered people smoke less, follow healthier routines more consistently, and may be more physically active.
  • These behaviors affect major causes of death (cardiovascular disease, cancer, and metabolic disease), which then affects all-cause mortality.
  1. Stress and mental health buffering
  • Close support can reduce loneliness and chronic stress.
  • Chronic stress and depression are linked to higher mortality risk, partly through sleep disruption, inflammation, blood pressure, and health behaviors.
  1. Economic and practical stability
  • Shared resources and daily structure can reduce financial strain and improve access to healthcare and healthier living conditions.
  • Socioeconomic stability influences many disease risks, so it can indirectly affect all-cause mortality.
  1. What studies typically show (direction and size)
  • Many cohorts and meta-analyses find lower all-cause mortality in married/stably partnered groups versus never-married/divorced/widowed groups, often around 10–20% lower risk on average.
  • Effects are often stronger in men than women, and sometimes stronger at younger ages (for example, under 65).
  • Living alone can add extra risk on top of relationship status, especially in men and adults under 65.
  • Relationship status is not purely causal: healthier people may be more likely to partner and stay partnered (selection effects), and lifestyle and income explain part (but usually not all) of the association.

Patterns

  • Sex: many studies show a stronger mortality gap for men (married/partnered vs not) than for women.
  • Age: the association is often stronger in adults under 65 than in older ages (where widowhood becomes more common and health conditions dominate risk).
  • Health status: differences can look larger in people with cardiovascular disease or after major cardiac events, where support and adherence matter more.
  • Living arrangement: living alone is often linked to higher mortality compared with living with others, even after accounting for some health factors.
  • Relationship quality: high-conflict or chronically unhappy relationships may not provide the same protection as supportive relationships.

KamaLama scoring

KamaLama treats relationship status as a categorical factor with a modest effect size. The model gives a small positive bonus for being in a committed long-term relationship, reflecting average population findings. It does not directly penalize being single, because risk related to loneliness, weak social ties, or high stress is captured more precisely by other KamaLama factors (such as social activity, relationship satisfaction, stress, and happiness).

Category/RangeScore (in years)
In a committed relationship (married or long-term partner)+2 years
Not in a committed relationship (single/divorced/separated/widowed)0 years
Prefer not to say / other0 years

Practical tips

  • If you are in a relationship: schedule one meaningful shared activity weekly (walk, dinner, hobby, sport) and protect it like an appointment.
  • If you are in a relationship: reduce chronic conflict—use calm check-ins, clear requests, and consider counseling if problems repeat.
  • If you are in a relationship: use your partnership as a health ally (remind each other about screenings, sleep, movement, and medication routines).
  • If you are not in a relationship: aim for at least one weekly “real connection” plan (a call, shared meal, walk, class, volunteering).
  • If you are not in a relationship: build a small reliable circle (2–5 people) rather than many weak contacts; consistency matters.
  • If loneliness or low mood is persistent: treat it like a health signal—seek support (therapy, groups, community activities) and build routines that make connection easier.

References

This website is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for medical advice.
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