Marriage has long been associated with better health outcomes, but its effects on aging may depend on gender and relationship history. A new study of older Canadians found that married men aged more successfully than their never-married peers, but for women, the story was more complex. Never-married women aged more successfully than those who experienced divorce or widowhood, while married women showed no significant differences from never-married women.
The findings have been published in the journal International Social Work.
As Canada’s population continues to age—nearly one in five Canadians is now 65 or older—understanding the factors that contribute to health and well-being in later life has become increasingly important. Previous research has highlighted the benefits of marriage, including improved physical and mental health, but these studies often failed to account for changes in marital status over time or how these dynamics might differ for men and women.
The researchers were particularly interested in addressing gaps in existing literature. While many studies have focused on static marital statuses (e.g., married vs. unmarried), few have examined how transitions, such as becoming widowed or married, affect aging outcomes.
Additionally, most prior studies used narrow definitions of “successful aging” that emphasized physical health and often excluded those with chronic illnesses or disabilities. The researchers sought to adopt a more comprehensive and inclusive definition, incorporating physical, psychological, social, and emotional well-being, to better capture the lived experiences of older adults.
“I am a registered social worker and have worked in gerontological social work for over 20 years. Supporting older adults in living and aging well has always been my passion,” said first author Mabel Ho, a research affiliate of the Institute of Life Course and Aging at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. “Our study followed over 7,000 middle-aged and older Canadians, and we noticed that some people aged well while others did not. By understanding factors associated with successful aging, we can better support older adults to thrive in later life.”
The study drew on data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, which tracks the health and well-being of adults aged 45 to 85 over 20 years. The researchers analyzed a subset of 7,641 participants who were at least 60 years old during the second wave of data collection (2015–2018). Participants were categorized based on their marital status at the start of the study and any changes experienced during the three-year period. Categories included never married, continuously married, continuously divorced or separated, continuously widowed, newly married, and newly unmarried.
Successful aging was assessed using a holistic framework that included physical health (e.g., absence of chronic pain or disability), mental health (e.g., absence of depression or anxiety), social wellness (e.g., strong social support networks), and self-perception of aging (e.g., feeling satisfied with life). Participants who met all criteria were classified as aging successfully.
The researchers found that married men or those who became married during the study were significantly more likely to age successfully compared to never-married men. This advantage persisted even after accounting for other factors, indicating a strong link between marriage and successful aging for men. Conversely, men who transitioned out of marriage—through divorce, separation, or widowhood—were less likely to age successfully, although their outcomes were not significantly worse than those of never-married men.
For women, marriage was less predictive of successful aging. Those who remained married showed no significant differences from never-married women in their likelihood of aging successfully. However, women who experienced widowhood or divorce during the study period were less likely to meet the criteria for successful aging compared to their never-married peers. These findings suggest that marital stability may be more influential for women’s aging outcomes than the presence of marriage itself.
“Married men were more likely to be aging optimally than never-married men, while older women who experienced widowhood, separation, and divorce were not doing as well as their never-married peers,” said senior author Esme Fuller-Thomson, the director of the Institute of Life Course and Aging and a professor at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work.
Overall, 70.5% of participants were classified as aging successfully by the end of the study. Factors such as maintaining social connections, engaging in regular physical activity, and avoiding smoking were strongly associated with successful aging for both sexes. However, the sex-specific differences in how marital trajectories influenced outcomes highlighted the importance of considering gendered experiences when addressing aging-related challenges.
“We also found that people who engaged in positive health behaviors such as maintaining a healthy body weight, being physically active, sleeping well, and not smoking were more likely to remain in optimal health as the study progressed,” Fuller-Thomson said. “It is essential to engage in an active and healthy lifestyle at all ages.”
“We introduced an expanded definition of successful aging in our study,” Ho added. “To be classified as aging successfully, older adults had to report no limitations in daily activities, no disabling pain, no mental illness or memory problems, adequate social support, and high self-rated wellness. We are thrilled that 70% of older adults who were doing well at baseline were still in optimal health at the end of the three-year study.”
However, as with all research, there are limitations. The study relied on self-reported data, which may introduce bias. Additionally, the sample was disproportionately well-educated, limiting the generalizability of findings to the broader population.
Future research could extend these findings by examining longer-term trends and exploring how other factors, such as caregiving roles, financial stability, and cultural norms, interact with marital status to influence aging. Researchers could also investigate the mechanisms behind the observed sex differences, such as variations in social support networks or coping strategies.
“We would like to continue looking into factors associated with successful aging and how to better support older adults in living and aging well,” Ho said. “With more waves of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging and other data becoming available, we can study more about how people are doing over time and why some people do well while others do not. The possibilities are endless.”
“After working with older adults living with various health conditions and their families for over 20 years, I realize that encouraging people to engage in an active and healthy lifestyle as early in life as possible is just as important as providing the best care when needed later in life. An age-friendly and supportive society for all will help more of us thrive in later life.”
The study, “The association between trajectories of marital status and successful aging varies by sex: Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA),” was authored by Mabel Ho, Eleanor Pullenayegum, David Burnes, and Esme Fuller-Thomson.
