Studies reveal that women have the same level of emotional satisfaction when they live together with their partner as when they tie the knot. However, men experience a decrease in emotional distress only on the second cohabitation, indicating a better choice made in getting a more serious partner.

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"Now it appears that young people, especially women, get the same emotional boost from moving in together as they do from going directly to marriage," co-author Sara Mernitz said. "There is no additional boost from getting married."

The study analyzed 8700 data of people from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, who were born from 1980 to 1984. The researchers interviewed couples regarding their relationship each year between 2000 and 2010.

The study, which was conducted by a team of researchers from the Ohio State University, revealed the same decline of emotional distress when women cohabitate with their partners the first time as when they decide to jump into marriage. 

In men, on the other hand, living together do not positively or negatively affect them. There is a drop in the level of distress among men only when they directly tie the knot.

"The young people in our study may be selecting better partners for themselves the second time around, which is why they are seeing a drop in emotional distress," Claired Kamp Dush, Ohio State University professor, said. 

In the United States, two-thirds of couples are staying together before marriage. These days, marriage is no longer seen as a way for couples to garner support and sense of companionship, which is very vital for one's overall emotional health.

Other factors measured in the study includes birth. It was found that having a child resulted in a remarkable decrease in emotional stress.

The findings of the study is set to be published in the online version of the Journal of Family Psychology. 

Tagsliving together, marriage, Emotional, health benefits, emotional distress, Living Together Vs Getting Married