Physical Disability Can Boost Marital Happiness

You may have done a double-take when you read that headline -- but yeah -- a new study claims that physical disability can impact marital happiness in a good way. Go figure. According to the study, published in the November 2008 journal Research on Aging, both men and women reported being happier in their marriage after they had become disabled. Men whose spouse became disabled also were happier in their marriage. Women whose spouse became disabled reported no change in their relationship.

Researchers followed 1,217 randomly-selected married people for a period of 12 years. About one-fourth had a partner who had become permanently disabled such that their ability to perform usual daily activities was affected. Researchers focused on that group and analyzed marital satisfaction before and after the onset of physical disability. Results suggested that physical disability creates more interaction between married partners. Physical disability of one spouse affords the other the opportunity to be more caring and supportive than ever before -- and share responsibilities in a new way. For those willing to make the best of a challenging situation, that is.

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