While simply being married is associated on average with better health, the health impacts of marriage are affected by marital quality.[1] High marital quality is typically characterized as high self-reported satisfaction with the relationship, generally positive attitudes toward one's spouse, and low levels of hostile and negative behavior.[2] Conversely, low marital quality is characterized as low self-reported satisfaction with the relationship, generally negative attitudes toward one's spouse, and high levels of hostile and negative behavior.[1] A troubled marriage is a significant source of stress, and limits one's ability to seek support from other relationships.[31] Unmarried people are, on average, happier than those unhappily married.[32] A meta-analysis of 126 studies found that greater marital quality is related to better health, with effect sizes comparable to those of health behaviors such as diet and exercise.[1] Explanations for the links between marital quality and health focus on social-cognitive and emotional processes, health behaviors, and a bidirectional association with mental illness.[1]