Two competing explanations have been offered to explain why the
unmarried experience greater stress--the protection/support hypothesis
(emotional support from a spouse offsets daily tensions) and the selection
hypothesis (the more emotionally mature individual marries). To assess
these hypotheses, the authors compared the difference in stress levels
between 61 married and unmarried students during the stressful years of
medical school. Stress was measured each year by attrition rates,
self-reports, and interviews with spouses. The stressors of medical school
were more severe for the single students; moveover, stress levels of
formerly single students declined after marriage. The authors believe these
results affirm the protection/support hypothesis.Abstract Teaser