Being married or in ‘marriage-like’ situation may bring health benefits – but quality of relationship is key, say experts

They were portrayed as self-satisfied and insufferable by Bridget Jones’s Diary, but research suggests cohabiting couples may have something to be smug about: they have a lower risk of depression than singletons.

A large-scale analysis involving more than 100,000 individuals across seven countries has added weight to previous research suggesting that being married or in a “marriage-like” relationship could bring health benefits.