Study Finds Link Between Happy Spouses And Health

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – It's a popular saying: Happy wife, happy life. But it may actually be more than just a saying.

A new study published in Health Psychology finds having a happy spouse may boost physical health.

The study of nearly 2,000 middle-aged heterosexual couples found that people with happy spouses were much more likely to report better health over time.

Researchers found people with unhappy spouses reported more physical ailments.

"This finding significantly broadens assumptions about the relationship between happiness and health, suggesting a unique social link," said William Chopik, PhD, an assistant professor of psychology at Michigan State University and principal investigator of the study.

"Simply having a happy partner may enhance health as much as striving to be happy oneself."