Valentine’s Day -14 February. Some lovers around the world make romantic plans for this day, while some women hope their partners will take advantage of this special occasion to propose… Well, the British researchers recommended not rushing into marriage: apparently, the importance of change in marital status is overrated.

Numerous studies show that married couples demonstrate better health, compared to their single counterparts. However, the specialists from Cornell University’s College of Human Ecology discovered that people who live together instead of getting married usually experience greater happiness and self-esteem, than married couples.                                    

Indeed, there is no evidence that marriage is substantially different from cohabitation (financial issues, such as marriage contract, not taken into account). For example, both married and cohabitating couples decrease their contact with parents and friends; however, it seems that cohabitation allows for greater independence and, as a result, more opportunities for personal growth.

The researchers analyzed the data from 2737 single men and women; out of this group, 896 got married or started living together with their partner over a period of 6 years. The scientists examined the participants’ levels of happiness, depression, social connections and health. Conclusion: you don’t need to get married to be happy with your partner.

“In recent decades western societies have experienced increases in cohabitation, before or instead of marriage, and increases in children born outside of marriage.” – says Kelly Music, one of the co-authors of the study. – “These changes have blurred the boundaries of marriage, leading to questions about what difference marriage makes in comparison to alternatives. Our research shows that marriage is by no means unique in promoting well-being and that other forms of romance and relationships can provide many of the same benefits.”