BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Married people generally report feeling healthier than those who have never married, and the statistics show their perceptions aren't wrong -- perpetually single people have a higher risk of death than those who are married.

But a new study on national health surveys from Michigan State University has suggested that single people's health may be improving.

Between 1972 and 2003, married people were more likely to report good health -- but the gains among never-married people grew even faster, so that the gap between the two narrowed.

Single men gained the most health improvement, and researchers said this may be due to better earning power among never-married men, as well as more social support from outside the family.

However, the study also revealed a troubling trend among widowed individuals. The authors reported a "dramatic" decline in the health of those who have lost a spouse.