A new study finds that the onset of physical disability boosts marital happiness more often than not.
The study shows what happens with couples when one of them loses the ability to perform routine daily activities:
- Both men and women - regardless of age - reported being happier in their marriage after they themselves became physically disabled.
- Men whose spouse became physically disabled also experienced greater happiness in their relationship.
- Women whose spouse became physically disabled reported no overall change in the relationship.
"The numbers show that couples seem to come together when one of them experiences physical limitations," said lead author Jeremy Yorgason, a Brigham Young University professor. "This suggests disability is a two-way street, with some surprising pluses in addition to the minuses people ordinarily expect."
The results - published in the journal Research on Aging - are based on information provided by 1,217 married people randomly selected from around the country. Researchers tracked the lives of the study participants for 12 years. By study's end, about one-fourth of participants - ranging from 36 to 75 years old - reported that either they or their spouse had permanent physical conditions that restricted activities like dressing, bathing, eating or working around the house. The researchers zeroed in on this group, comparing their satisfaction in marriage before and after the physical disability occurred.