This is borrowed from http://www.eharmony.com/blog/2014/03/19/is-marriage-or-living-together-better-for-your-brain/?lcid=92657&laid=Links#.U0MQBN9lTfE
Is Marriage or Living Together Better for Your Brain?
Today’s guest blog comes from
therapist Nina Atwood, who discusses the benefits of getting married
vs. living with a partner. Having been on both sides of this one, I
agree that marriage just feels right for me and there is contentment
on a much deeper level.
The other day I came home stressed out
and my husband offered to give me a head and shoulder rub. What
bliss! Not only did it feel good to my tense muscles, but as he
rubbed, I felt my entire system calm down.
I know without having to think about it
that my husband loves me and is there for me. So that neck and
shoulder rub wasn't just physically therapeutic, it was emotionally
therapeutic. And there was an additional bonus: It’s a safeguard
against the health impacts of stress. The big news: couples who live
together cannot gain those same benefits.
We've known for a long time that a
good marriage is better for you than being contentedly single. It is
well documented that married couples gain significant health,
economic, and quality of life benefits. But we haven’t had research
that documents the difference between marrying and living together,
regarding those same benefits, until now. Here’s what researchers
at the University of Virginia found, and what it means for you.
If you’re “just living together,”
your brain knows that it’s not the same thing as being married.
Using functional MRIs (fMRIs), the researchers found that people have
a decreased reaction to stress when holding the hand of a married
partner. But when the hand they hold is that of a live-in partner,
their reaction to stress is significantly higher. Why? Because the
brain can’t relax.
One of the most important aspects of a
good relationship is that you feel safe with your partner, that you
believe your partner has your back and is really there for you.
Getting married signifies the highest level of commitment. It conveys
to both of you that you are willing to throw all of it in together —
your living space, your assets, your emotional vulnerability, your
health and overall well-being.
There is no other relationship in which
you commit to being together not just for years, but for decades, and
in which you commit not to bail even if it is challenging. When
you’re married, you’re in it for the long run.
The research now shows that when you
make that level of commitment, your brain gets it and relaxes. You
really do emotionally “exhale” in the context of marriage in a
way that you cannot in a cohabiting relationship. Your brain knows
the difference; it knows that when you are not married, you haven’t
yet made that level of commitment, so it doesn't entirely relax.
If you’re considering moving in
together, here’s what you need to know. You won’t get the
benefits of marriage, so don’t expect them. Don’t expect your
live-in partner to give you the kind of devotion and commitment you
would expect from a husband or wife. Don’t be surprised if there’s
an underlying feeling of insecurity that you thought would disappear
after the moving truck drove away. It won’t. It can’t.
Ask yourself: why am I moving in
together rather than holding out for marriage? Dig deep, uncover the
real reasons. Most couples who live together do so for the wrong
reasons: to save money on rent, as a test for marriage (if this goes
well, then I’ll consider marrying this person), or to avoid making
a deeper commitment.
If you’re tempted to settle for a
live-in arrangement, maybe you should take a step back and aim
higher. Aim for someone with whom the idea of sharing the rest of
your life is mutually exciting and desirable. Aim for someone whose
end goal is also marriage, and neither of you will settle for
anything less. Get your own act together so that you can hold out for
a relationship that offers the whole package: love, devotion,
commitment, and a happy life together — for a lifetime!
