People who quit smoking report higher levels of health-related quality of life compared with people who continue to smoke, a new study shows. They also report fewer stressful situations, and more support by spouses or partners.

The study followed 1,504 smokers for three years after they quit smoking, and compared them with daily smokers who did not quit, the Los Angeles Times reports. While people in both groups reported a drop in overall quality of life, those who quit smoking had smaller decreases.

Study participants who had quit smoking reported higher levels of health-related quality of life one year and three years after quitting smoking, compared with those who continued to smoke. After three years, ex-smokers reported fewer stressful situations; current smokers reported more.

While marital satisfaction stayed the same in both groups, people who had quit smoking reported more support by spouses or partners compared with current smokers.

The researchers write in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine that the findings could be useful to smokers who are concerned that quitting smoking will adversely impact their quality of life.