A new study suggests that the drinking habits of one's partner may affect one's lifespan.
Drinking Habits and Longevity
For a long time, scientists have suspected that couples with similar drinking habits may have better marital outcomes. They may report marriages with better quality and that last longer. However, the effects of similar drinking habits on general health have not been delved into that much.
The study was inspired by the "drinking partnership" theory, which holds that couples with similar alcohol use patterns tend to have better outcomes in marriage, such as longer marriages and lesser conflict. While much research has looked into how drinking patterns of a couple impact their marital outcomes, the same cannot be said for health outcomes. Behaviors that yield good martial outcomes may not necessarily be good for one's health.
To look into these impacts, researchers from the Institute of Social Research at the University of Michigan recruited 4,656 cohabiting or married heterosexual couples over 50 years old in the US. These couples were interviewed every two years for at least six years, between the years 1996 and 2016.
The participants reported whey consumed alcohol in the prior three months and, if they did so, they also reported the amount of alcohol they drank per week on average.
Findings were noted in the "Alcohol Use and Mortality Among Older Couples in the United States: Evidence of Individual and Partner Effects" study.
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Similar Light Drinking Habits Associated With Longer Life
By looking into the data, the researchers observed that couples with similar drinking habits had the tendency to live longer compared to couples wherein one drank while the other did not.
However, longevity was observed to follow a curve with a U shape, wherein average weekly alcohol intake was considered among partners and individuals. Highest survival rates were observed among those who were light drinkers.
Kira Birditt, the study's lead author and a research professor from the institute, shares that the aim was to examine alcohol use among couples in the HRS (Health and Retirement Study) and see the mortality implications.
They interestingly found that couples who both indicated that they drank alcohol in the past few months lived longer compared to couples who both did ot drink or wherein only one of the two drank.
Nevertheless, it is crucial to note that the findings do not necessarily recommend more alcohol consumption with one's spouse. Even low drinking levels have been linked with adverse impacts on sleep and brain health.
However, the results still contribute to the vast evidence that relationship quality and a partner's habits can impact one's longevity and health.
Birditt explains that they do not know why a couple drinking is linked to better survival. There is minimal data regarding the interpersonal processes that happen daily and that explain such associations. Further research should look into the implications of the drinking patterns of a couple on daily physical health outcomes and marital quality.
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