Reference: “2004 Fact Sheet-Married Adults are Healthiest,” Marital Status and Health: United States, 1999-2002,National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services.

The report, “Marital Status and Health: United States, 1999-2002,” was based on interviews with 127,545 adults aged 18 and over.  The following findings are listed on the fact sheet that describes the report:

1. 60% of adults are married.
2. 19% are never married.
3. 10.4% are separated or divorced.
4. 6.5% are widowed.
5. 5.7% are living with a partner.
6. Married adults are less likely than other adults:

• to be in fair or poor health
• to suffer from health conditions such as headaches and serious psychological distress;
• to be limited in various activities that includes work and other activities of daily living;
• to smoke heavily, drink heavily or be physically inactive.

7. Married men are more likely to be overweight or obese than other men.
8. Adults who live in cohabiting relationships are more likely to have health problems than married adults and more closely resemble divorced and separated adults.
9. The association between marital status and health is most striking in the youngest age group although it persists throughout the age groups studied.

The reasons for better health among married adults are not determined with this data collection.

Reference: “Teenagers in the United States: Sexual Activity, Contraceptive Use, and Childbearing, 2002,” Vital and Health Statistics, Series 23, Number 24, December 2004, Centers for Disease Control, US Dept. of Health & Human Services.
The National Survey of Family Growth was conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics.  Interviews were conducted with 7,643 females, 1,150 of whom were teenagers, and 4,928 males, 1,121 of whom were teenagers.

“In 2002, about 47 percent of female teenagers (4.6 million), and about 46 percent of male teenagers (4.7 million) had had sexual intercourse at least once.   For never-married males, there was a significant decline from 55 percent in 1995 to 46 percent in 2002.  Among never-married females, for those aged 15-17 there was a significant decline in the percent sexually experienced, and for those aged 18-19 there was no significant change.   Teenagers showed increases in the use of contraceptives at their first intercourse.   About 3 out of 4 teens used a method of contraception at their first intercourse.  About 91 percent of males and 83 percent of females used a method at their last (most recent) sex.  Hispanic teens are most likely to have a birth before age 20 and non-Hispanic whites are least likely, with non-Hispanic black teens in the middle.”

This report indicates that adolescents in high school are gaining in understanding the message that saving sex for marriage is a healthy lifestyle, particularly males and 15-17 year old females.  However, college age females appear to relax their commitment to delay sex until marriage and expose themselves to sexually transmitted diseases, out-of-wedlock pregnancies and dealing with abortion or adoption decisions.   Our counsel:  Persevere in your personal commitment to save sex for marriage.  Make a personal commitment to abstain from sex until marriage from now on, even if you have engaged in sexual activity in the past.