DIVORCE — AND YOU COULD DIE EARLIER

A RAFT of studies have come up with the same conclusion: marriage is good for your health.

In 1992 a UK analysis revealed that in all age groups, married women had lower death rates than single, widowed or divorced women. In every group below 80, married men were less likely to die prematurely.

And divorce increases your chances of dying. A 1985 study revealed that divorced men had a 76 per cent greater risk of premature death than married men, and 39 per cent for women. Never marrying was worse for survival chances than getting divorced or separating.

But why? Two U.S. studies concluded that it improves psychological wellbeing and reduces mental illness. But marriage break-up also leads to risky, lifeshortening behaviour — such as smoking, drinking and unsafe sex. And single and divorced men seem to be more careless about health check-ups.

Of course, there are always exceptions. As Scotland’s Jessie Callan — who reached 109 — said: ‘My secret has been staying away from men. They’re more trouble than they’re worth.’