A study published Wednesday found that married men are more likely to age “successfully” compared to those who never married.

The research published in the journal of International Social Work focused on Canada’s aging population by studying the lives of more than 7,000 middle-aged and older individuals for roughly a three-year period. Scientists found that men who became married during the study were twice as likely to age physically, cognitively, mentally and emotionally in a far more successful way to their non-married counterparts. (RELATED: Dear Kay: What Happened To Real Men? Are There Any Left?)

The findings pretty much confirm the long-held “conservative” and “religious” idea that there is huge value in being in a happy, committed relationship in a nuclear family. “Previous studies have shown that marriage is associated with better health outcomes for both men and women, while men who were never married generally had the poorest health outcomes,” co-author David Burnes told EurekAlert.

Dear Kay: I’m A Liberal Woman Who Is Deeply Attracted To Conservative Men. Why? | ⁦@DailyCaller⁩

You are not alone. https://t.co/CWlhu0FcJJ

— KAY SMYTHE (@KaySmythe) August 9, 2022

“It may be that married people encourage each other to adopt or maintain positive health behaviors such as quitting smoking or exercising regularly,” Burns theorized to EurekAlert. (RELATED: Bill De Blasio Reveals His Wife Will Sleep With Other Men While They Still Live Together)

Married women and never-married women had strangely similar optimal aging trajectories compared to women who were widowed or divorced during the course of study, which feels like a “well duh” finding. But it also sheds light on how a broken heart can be a huge detriment to one’s health as this is the only category that significantly differed from women who never married.

Having close social connections were also key in healthy aging for both men and women, the study found. The researchers hope that the study will further programs to support Canada’s aging population by cultivating greater social connections.