London: People who live a happy married life beat stress better than those who live single, says a study that shows happy marriage as a best stress buster. Popular perception is that single people have a carefree lifestyle. But the latest research shows that being in a loving relationship makes it easier to cope with the stresses and strains of working life, reported online edition of Daily Mail.

Psychologist Dr Roxane Gervais monitored the stress levels of more than 400 nurses working in Yorkshire hospitals. She found that those who were married or in a steady relationship, were least affected by the strains of the job. It is thought that married people benefit from simply being able to talk through their day with someone after work. Such support may be particularly valuable in occupations such as nursing, in which emotions have to be suppressed during working hours, the study says.

The break-up of a marriage, however, has the opposite effect, with women who divorce being 50 percent more likely to develop heart disease in later life than those who stay married. Stressed-out parents who work long hours are making their children unhappy. Fathers’ stress levels are a particularly powerful influence, the study by the Institute of Education in London found.