SOCIAL INTEGRATION

• DEGREE OF CONNECTEDNESS BETWEEN PEOPLE IN A GROUP (DURKHEIM)

• JOHN BOWLBY - ATTACHMENT THEORY

• PRIMATES AND IMPORTANCE OF ATTACHMENTS (HARLOW)

I. TRADITIONAL VIEW

• MARRIAGE IS GOOD FOR MENTAL HEALTH (DURKHEIM)

• 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)

• CONSTRAINS BEHAVIOR - MARRIED FEWER RISKIER BEHAVIORS, MORE HEALTH PROMOTIVE BEHAVIORS

II. BENEFITS OF MARRIAGE DATED?

• CHANGES IN SOCIAL NORMS

• RISING AGE OF MARRIAGE; MORE PEOPLE LIVING ALONE; STAYING SINGLE AND GETTING DIVORCED NOT STIGMATIZED

• RISE OF COHABITATION (10x SINCE 1970)

BENEFITS DATED?

• 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?

III. FEMINIST VIEW

• ADVANTAGES ONLY FOR MEN

• MARRIAGE SOURCE OF OPPRESSION FOR WOMEN

• UNEQUAL DIVISION OF LABOR/ROLE OVERLOAD

• SPOUSAL VIOLENCE

MARRIAGE AND DISTRESS

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• MARRIAGE GOOD• BOTH MEN AND

WOMEN BENEFIT• MEN BENEFIT

MORE

RUTGERS HHDP STUDY

• 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)

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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

• CAUSATION NOT SELECTION

• MOST SUPPORT FOR TRADITIONAL VIEW

VARIATIONS

• IMPACT OF CHILDREN - MIXED

• MARITAL QUALITY CRUCIAL

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

IMPACT OF DISSOLUTION (RUTGERS HHDP)

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FINDINGS

• DISSOLUTION LEADS TO MORE DEPRESSION AND ALC. PROBLEMS

• BOTH WOMEN AND MEN

• HARMFUL IMPACT OF DISSOLUTION SAME FOR MEN AND WOMEN

• CAUSATION NOT SELECTION

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

IMPACT ON CHILDREN

• USUALLY THOUGHT TO BE VERY GREAT - RETROSPECTIVE

• RUTGERS HHDP STUDY – NO IMPACT

VARIATIONS

• PREEXISTING CONTEXT

• PRESENCE OF SECONDARY STRESSORS

• ECONOMIC STRESS, DOWNWARD MOBILITY, LOSS OF SOCIAL SUPPORT, FAMILY CONFLICT

CONCLUSIONS FOR MARITAL DISSOLUTION

• DISSOLUTION VERY BAD FOR MENTAL HEALTH AT LEAST IN SHORT RUN

• 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