More severe isolation?

            LONDON - People who never marry have the greatest risk of an earlier death, claims a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. The findings reflect national census and death certification data on almost 67,000 U.S. adults 1989-1997. In 1989, almost one in two of the sample were married, and almost one in 10 widowed. About 12% were divorced, 3% were separated. Of the rest, 5% were cohabiting; one in five never married. Not surprisingly, older age and poor health were strong predictors of death by 1997, but a surviving marriage was strongly tied to longer life. After noting age, health, and other factors likely to influence findings, those widowed were almost 40% more likely to die 1989-1997. Those divorced or separated were 27% more likely to have done so. Those never married were 58% more likely to have died in this period than peers married and living with their spouse in 1989. The never married “penalty” was larger for those in very good or better health, and smallest for those in poor health, and greater among men than women. For the younger group, the primary causes of death among those never married were infectious disease and “external” factors. Among the middle-aged and elderly, the main causes were cardiovascular and chronic diseases. Never married men were more vulnerable than never married females, and never married men 19-44 were more than twice as likely to die as married male peers of that age. “Risky” behaviors couldn’t explain the differences, say the authors, because the unmarried group were only slightly more likely to smoke than married counterparts, and less likely to drink regularly. They exercised slightly more and were less overweight. Authors say marriage is a rough proxy for social connectedness, and suggest never having married may be tied to more severe isolation.