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MARITAL STATUS AND MENTAL HEALTH. I. TRADITIONAL VIEW. MARRIAGE IS GOOD FOR MENTAL HEALTH (FROM DURKHEIM) SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS INTERPERSONAL - SOCIAL SUPPORT, EMOTIONAL SECURITY, INTIMACY SOCIAL INTEGRATION - TIES TO COMMUNITY. BENEFITS OF MARRIAGE. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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I. TRADITIONAL VIEW
• MARRIAGE IS GOOD FOR MENTAL HEALTH (FROM DURKHEIM)
• SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS• INTERPERSONAL - SOCIAL SUPPORT,
EMOTIONAL SECURITY, INTIMACY• SOCIAL INTEGRATION - TIES TO
COMMUNITY
BENEFITS OF MARRIAGE
• ECONOMIC WELL-BEING - MARRIED EARN MORE (WOMEN + $12,000; MEN + $7,000)
• HEALTH BEHAVIOR - MARRIED FEWER RISKIER BEHAVIORS, MORE HEALTH PROMOTIVE BEHAVIORS
RECENT CHANGES
• 1950 – MARRIED COUPLES 80% OF ALL HOUSEHOLDS; 2000 – 50%
• PEOPLE DELAYING MARRIAGE UNTIL LATE 20’S
• HUGE GROWTH OF PEOPLE LIVING ALONE – NOW 26% OF TOTAL
RECENT TRENDS
• 10X GROWTH OF COHABITATION SINCE 1970
• MORE CHILDREN OUT-OF-WEDLOCK - 34% IN U.S.(VS. 5% IN 1960); 50% IN SCANDANAVIA
• HUGE GROWTH OF DIVORCE IN 1960s-1970s, STABLE SINCE THEN
• MARRIAGE WEAKENING?
II. BENEFITS OF MARRIAGE DATED
• CHANGES IN SOCIAL NORMS• STAYING SINGLE AND GETTING
DIVORCED NOT STIGMATIZED• RISE OF COHABITATION• FREEDOM AND AUTONOMY
III. FEMINIST VIEW
• ADVANTAGES ONLY FOR MEN• MARRIAGE SOURCE OF OPPRESSION
FOR WOMEN• ROLE OVERLOAD• CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE
THREE QUESTIONS
• HOW IS MARRIAGE RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH?
• HOW IS DIVORCE RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH?
• ARE MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE DIFFERENT FOR MEN AND WOMEN?
MARRIAGE AND DISTRESS
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
SM
SW
MM
MW
• BOTH MEN AND WOMEN BENEFIT
• MEN BENEFIT MORE
• SELECTION?
RUTGERS HHDP STUDY (HORWITZ AND WHITE)
• LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF 1300 REPRESENTATIVE NEW JERSEY ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS
• FIVE SURVEYS IN 1980, 1983, 1986, 1993, 1998
• STARTED AT AGES 12, 15, AND 18• NOW ARE AGES 36 - 42
FINDINGS (RUTGERS STUDY)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
SW MW SM MM
DEPALC
FINDINGS
• MARRIED BETTER MENTAL HEALTH • LESS DEPRESSION FOR BOTH
MARRIED MEN AND WOMEN• MARRIED HAVE FAR FEWER ALC
PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY WOMEN• SINGLE WOMEN MOST DEPRESSED• SINGLE MEN MOST ALCOHOL PROB.
CONCLUSIONS
• MARRIAGE STILL GOOD FOR MENTAL HEALTH
• GOOD FOR BOTH SEXES• NOT SELECTION• MOST SUPPORT FOR TRADITIONAL
VIEW
MARITAL DISSOLUTION
• SEP/DIV HAVE HIGHEST RATE OF ALL MENTAL DISORDERS, SUICIDE, ALCOHOL AND DRUG PROBLEMS, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT
• SEPARATION MORE DISTRESSING THAN DIVORCE
• DIVORCE OFTEN STRESS RELIEF
WHY IS DISSOLUTION SO HARMFUL?
• CONFLICT AND TURMOIL• SELF-CONCEPTION• SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS/ SUPPORT• ECONOMIC DETERIORATION• CHANGE IN LIVING CONDITIONS• CHILDREN• ALL HAPPENING AT SAME TIME
SELECTION
• DOES DISSOLUTION LEAD TO MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS – CAUSATION?
• OR DOES SELECTION OF WORST MENTAL HEALTH LEAD TO DISSOLUTION?
IMPACT OF DISSOLUTION (RUTGERS HHDP)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
MW DW MM DM
DEPALC
FINDINGS
• DISSOLUTION LEADS TO MORE DEPRESSION AND ALC. PROBLEMS
• MORE DEPRESSION AND ALCOHOL PROBLEMS FOR BOTH WOMEN AND MEN
• HARMFUL IMPACT OF DISSOLUTION SAME FOR MEN AND WOMEN
• NOT SELECTION
CONCLUSIONS FOR MARITAL DISSOLUTION
• DISSOLUTION VERY BAD FOR MENTAL HEALTH
• WORSE THAN STAYING IN BAD MARRIAGE??
CONCLUSIONS
• MENTALLY HEALTHY TO GET AND STAY MARRIED FOR BOTH SEXES
• MARITAL DISSOLUTION ESPECIALLY BAD FOR BOTH SEXES
• IMPLICATIONS BAD - MORE PEOPLE REMAINING UNMARRIED, MARRY LATER, GET DIVORCED