"There are known benefits to being married and in a long-term relationship rather than being single, divorced, or cohabiting. The list below shows health benefits from the cohabitation and marriage study of the National Survey of Family Growth. Better mental and physical health with better medical insurance coverage prove to be crucial qualities for marrieds. As far as children are concerned, having better care and better adult outcomes are crucial factors.\n\nHealth Benefits Known to be an Advantage among Married Persons in the U.S.\n\n1. Generally better mental and physical health outcomes\n\n2. Longer lives\n\n3. Higher rates of health insurance coverage\n\n4. Lower prevalence of cardiovascular disease\n\n5. Better health and well-being of children\n\n6. Children born to unmarried mothers are at greater risk for poverty, teen childbearing, poor school achievement, and marital disruption in adulthood than children born to married mothers"