Golf and hockey widows can take solace. The popularity of hockey leagues, golf foursomes and other social activities have significant health benefits according to social science evidence which indicates their sport-playing mates will probably live longer.
According to Dr. Ichiro Karachi of Harvard University there are health benefits for those in society who have a strong, well-developed level of social cohesion which includes being married, belonging to clubs and leagues and having strong contact with close relatives and friends.
In speaking at the First International Conference on Inner City Health Research Dr. Kawachi pointed to studies which clearly demonstrate a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease for people with strong social networks. 'While all members of society have better health if they are well connected to their community, the mental and physical health of married men is significantly better than any other group including married women,' said Kawachi. 'There is a perception that in patriarchal societies, women are the care givers and men are beneficiaries of health. The research supports the perception.'
Kawachi explained that there are forms of capital other than financial which affect the health of individuals in a society. 'Social capital is the resource available through social relations such as reciprocal exchanges and stocks of trust that facilitate action.'