Married people have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, suggesting that they are less stressed than their single counterparts, according to a new study.
- Study finds married participants have less cortisol than unmarried
- High levels of cortisol impairs body's ability to regulate inflammation
- Low levels of cortisol associated with reduced heart disease risk
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh measured cortisol levels in saliva samples of 572 healthy adults. They found that participants who were married had consistently lower levels of the hormone cortisol than those who were never wed or were previously married.
The findings suggest unmarried people may have more mental stress than married people do, according to the researchers. Chronic stress boosts cortisol levels, which, in turn, impairs the body's ability to regulate inflammation. Inflammation plays a role in development of many diseases, the researchers said.
Researchers also compared participants' daily cortisol rhythm. Levels normally peak when a person wakes up and then gradually decline. Married people in the study showed a faster decline of cortisol levels, a pattern associated with reduced heart disease risk and longer survival among cancer patients, the researchers said.
The study appears in the April issue of the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology.