As A Community Priority William J. Doherty Poor social relationships are as damaging to physical health as cigarette smoking.
Marital distress is an important health hazard for adults and children.
Marital distress leads to depression and reduces immune system functioning in adults. Divorce is a major health risk for American adults and children. In addition to well-established links between divorce and mental health problems, adults who experience divorce more than double their risk of earlier mortality. These effects are comparable to those of cigarette smoking. Marriage education is effective in promoting marital quality and stability.