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Letter: All for the better

Published 26 October 2002

From Breen Sweeney

In 1972, Jessie Bernard concluded that men were better off married than single, because they had fewer symptoms of anxiety, depression, neurosis and passivity. But she thought that the opposite applied to women. However, recent studies show that marriage also has a positive effect on women, increasing their happiness (5 October, p 20).

Aren’t these studies back to front? Isn’t it more likely that the people who are well adjusted, happy and successful in life are far more likely to end up married?

London, UK

Issue no. 2366 published 26 October 2002

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