A growing number of couples are living together in sexual relationships without bothering to marry. Are these relationships essentially the same as marriages? Research over the decades has shown significant differences in these two household forms, and the latest report from the National Center for Health Statistics continues that trend.
Here, verbatim, are the “Key findings” in a new report, “Marriage, Cohabitation, and Men’s Use of Preventive Health Care Services.”
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Key findings
Data from the National Health Interview Survey, 2011-2012
- Among men aged 18–64, those who were married were more likely than cohabiting men and other not-married men to have had a health care visit in the past 12 months.
- Marriage was associated with greater likelihood of a health care visit for both younger and older men, and for men with health insurance.
- Among those for whom blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes screenings are recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, married men were more likely than cohabiting men to have received these clinical preventive services in the past 12 months.
- Cohabiting men were less likely than other not-married men to have had a health care visit, cholesterol check, or diabetes screening.
The take-away? Men, the next time your wives nag you to go to the doctor — be thankful!
Reprinted with permission from FRCblog.com.
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