scholarly journals Marital Conflict, Anger Expression, and Marital Instability: Associations by Age and Culture

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 773-773
Author(s):  
Dakota Witzel ◽  
Madeline Nichols ◽  
Robert Stawski
Keyword(s):  
Marital Conflict ◽  
Marital Quality ◽  
Anger Expression ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Marital Disruption ◽  
The United States ◽  
Marital Stability ◽  
Marital Instability ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Using Data

Abstract Positive social relationships, such as high-quality marriages, are associated with better health, especially among older adults. Moreover, negative components in marriages (i.e., disagreements and associated emotional responses) are linked to negative outcomes such as marital disruption (McGonagle et al., 1993) and divorce (Markman et al., 2010). Factors such as marital conflicts and emotion expression threaten marital stability and health and have been shown to decrease with age and in collectivist cultures (i.e., Japan compared to U.S.; Kitayama et al., 2015; Matsunaga & Imahori, 2009). While anger has featured as a specific emotion associated with compromised health and marital quality (Carrère et al., 2005), less is known about how marital conflict and the expression of anger may contribute to marital instability in later life, or differences in these links across age and culture. Using data from married respondents participating in the second wave of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS, n=750, Mage=55.18, SD=11.5, %Female=50.13%) study or first wave of the Midlife in Japan (MIDJA; n=706, Mage=55.26, SD=13.68, %Female=47.73%) studies, we examined associations between disagreements, anger expression, and marital risk. Preliminary analyses revealed that marital disagreements and anger expression were each associated with increased marital instability in both the MIDUS and MIDJA samples (ps<.05). Additionally, the effects of marital disagreements and anger expression did not differ between the two samples or as a function of age. Discussion will focus on the relevance of expression and regulation of emotions for understanding marital (in)stability in midlife and aging and across cultures.

Marital Quality and Well-Being Among Older Adults: A Typology of Supportive, Aversive, Indifferent, and Ambivalent Marriages

2020 ◽  
pp. 016402752096914
Author(s):  
Yingling Liu ◽  
Laura Upenieks
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Marital Quality ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Life Course Perspective ◽  
Multiple Indicators ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Synergistic Relationship

A large body of work has linked marital quality to the health and well-being of older adults, but there is a lack of agreement on how to best measure dimensions of marital quality. Drawing on a stress-process life course perspective, we construct a typology of marriage type that captures the synergistic relationship between positive and negative marital qualities and health. Using data from Wave 1 (2005/2006) and Wave 2 (2010/2011) of the NSHAP survey from the United States, we examine the association between supportive, aversive, ambivalent, and indifferent marriages for older adults that remained married over the study period on multiple indicators of well-being (depression, happiness, and self-rated health; N = 769 males and 461 females). Results suggest that older adults in aversive marriages reported lower happiness (men and women) and physical health (men). There was less evidence that those in ambivalent and indifferent marriages reported worse well-being.

Marital Quality as a Mechanism Linking Childhood Abuse to Mental Health

2022 ◽  
pp. 0192513X2110598
Author(s):  
Michael Fitzgerald ◽  
Jacob A. Esplin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Childhood Abuse ◽  
Marital Quality ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
The United States ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Midlife Development ◽  
Using Data

Childhood abuse has been widely associated with mental health problems in adulthood and marital quality may be one possible mediator. We examine marital quality as a mediator linking childhood abuse to positive affect, negative affect, emotionally reactivity, and aggression. Using data from Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS), results of structural equation modeling indicate that the indirect effects from childhood abuse to each of the mental health outcomes were significant. Marital quality may be a source of resilience among adults who were abused in childhood and could be a point of intervention for clinicians.

The effect of time volunteering and charitable donations in later life on psychological wellbeing

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 590-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
NAMKEE G. CHOI ◽  
JINSEOK KIM
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Later Life ◽  
The United States ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Moderate Amount ◽  
Charitable Donations ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Positive Direct

ABSTRACTAlthough accumulated research findings point to both short- and long-term salutary effects of time volunteering on older adults' physical and mental health, little research has been done on the effect of older adults' making charitable donations on their wellbeing. Guided by activity theory and the theory of volunteering and using data from the first and second waves of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS, 1995–1996 and MIDUS II, 2004–2006), this study examined the question of whether time volunteering and charitable donations nine years earlier had a positive direct effect on psychological wellbeing among individuals age 55 and above. Controlling for time 1 (T1) psychological wellbeing and T1 human, cultural, and social capital resources, a moderate amount (up to ten hours monthly) of T1 time volunteering and any amount of T1 charitable donations had a direct positive effect on time 2 (T2; nine years later) psychological wellbeing. The findings also show a greater effect on psychological wellbeing of any amount of charitable donations than of any amount of time volunteering, although the extent of the effect of both time volunteering and charitable donations was small. With regard to human, cultural, and social capital resources, T1 self-rated health and generative quality were significant predictors of T2 psychological wellbeing, but T1 social capital had no significant effect on T2 psychological wellbeing.

scholarly journals When Equity Matters for Marital Stability: Comparing German and American Couples

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Bellani ◽  
Gøsta Esping Andersen ◽  
Léa Pessin
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Event History Analysis ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
The United States ◽  
Marital Stability ◽  
Work Hours ◽  
West Germany ◽  
History Analysis ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Stable Arrangement

Comparing West Germany and the United States, we analyze the association between equity - in terms of the relative gender division of paid and unpaid work hours – and the risk of marriage dissolution. Our aim is to identify under what conditions equity influences couple stability. We apply event-history analysis to marriage histories using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel for Western Germany and the Panel Study of Income Dynamics for the United States for the period 1986 to 2009. For the United States, we find that deviation from equity is particularly destabilizing when the wife under-benefits, and when both partners' paid work hours are similar. In West Germany, equity is less salient. Instead we find that the male breadwinner model remains the single most stable arrangement.

scholarly journals Rich and Balanced Experiences of Daily Emotions Are Associated With Activity Diversity Across Adulthood

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 18-19
Author(s):  
Soomi Lee ◽  
Emily Urban-Wojcik ◽  
Susan Charles ◽  
David Almeida
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Later Life ◽  
The United States ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Active Lifestyles ◽  
Sample Age

Abstract We examined whether the diversity of daily activities (“activity diversity”) is associated with the diversity of daily emotions (“emodiversity”) and if the association differs by age. Two samples of adults from the Midlife in the United States Study provided activity and emotion data for eight days. Greater activity diversity was associated with greater positive and negative emodiversity in each sample. Age moderated the association between activity diversity and positive emodiversity in an older sample, such that association was stronger for younger adults than for older adults. Results from data combining the two samples revealed that the associations of activity diversity with positive or negative emodiversity were significant when age < 70, 71 years, respectively. Broad and even participation of daily activities may provide more opportunities to experience rich and balanced emotions in adulthood. The weaker associations in older age may suggest the need to promote active lifestyles in later life.

The Impacts of Postdivorce Cohabitation and Relationship Duration on the Early Marital Climate of Remarriages

2021 ◽  
pp. 106648072110541
Author(s):  
J. Scott Crapo ◽  
Joshua J. Turner ◽  
Kay Bradford ◽  
Brian J. Higginbotham
Keyword(s):  
Marital Quality ◽  
Marital Instability ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
First Order ◽  
Relationship Duration ◽  
Mixed Effect Models ◽  
Climate Indicators ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Relationship

Postdivorce cohabitation has become increasingly common, but research on the influence of cohabitation on the marital climate of remarriages is limited. Research on first-order marriages suggests that the length (or duration) of the relationship may account for some of the influence of cohabitation. However, there remains a need to understand the influence of cohabitation on the unique experiences of remarriages. Using data from 1,889 newly remarried individuals, we fit mixed-effect models to test the effect of cohabitation and relationship duration on the marital climate indicators of marital quality, marital instability, and remarital problems. Relationship duration, but not cohabitation, was negatively associated with marital quality. Cohabitation, but not relationship duration, was positively associated with marital instability and negatively associated with remarital problems. Results indicate that cohabitation may both benefit and harm remarital climates. This may explain, in part, the inconsistent findings in the literature and highlights the importance of studying remarriages as a unique population.

Self-Reported Marital Instability as Correlated with the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale for a Sample of Midwestern Wives

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 243-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gyung Ja Jeong ◽  
Stephan R. Bollman ◽  
Walter R. Schumm
Keyword(s):  
Marital Satisfaction ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Social Desirability ◽  
Marital Quality ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Marital Stability ◽  
Marital Instability ◽  
Moderate Correlation ◽  
Satisfaction Scale ◽  
Family Theory

Family theory predicts a strong relationship between marital quality and marital stability; however, relatively little research with the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale has concerned marital stability as a correlate. In a random sample of 130 wives from a midwestern community, a moderate correlation obtained between the satisfaction scale and marital stability, as measured by the Marital Status Inventory. The magnitude of the correlation did not appear to be an artifact of individual social desirability.

scholarly journals Gender Differences in Pain: Examining Explanations for the Association

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 894-895
Author(s):  
Cherish Michael ◽  
Anne Barrett
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Later Life ◽  
The United States ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
The Body ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Using Data

Abstract Physical pain is a gendered experience: Women report higher levels of it than do men. This pattern may stem from differences in experiences of the body. Women are socialized to be attentive to its functioning, appearance, and sensations, while men are discouraged from paying much attention to their bodies. Little is known, however, about the precise social and economic pathways leading to gender differences in pain, especially in middle and later life when pain is most prevalent. We examine this issue using data from Wave 3 of Midlife in the United States (2013-2014). We consider four possible explanations for women’s more frequent reports of pain: economic security, physical and mental health, social relationships, and discrimination. Results indicate that women are more likely than men to report experiencing chronic pain, as well as greater effects of it on their everyday lives. However, only two of the explanations contributed to explaining this association. Economic security and physical and mental health accounted for substantial portions of the association between gender and pain – 57 and 73 percent, respectively. In contrast, no mediating role was observed for either women’s social relationships, in particular the greater strain they experience in them, or their more frequent reports of everyday and lifetime discrimination. The final model including all the possible explanations revealed that gender was no longer significant, suggesting that middle-aged and older women’s greater pain is explained by their worse health and economic circumstances.

scholarly journals Dyadic Patterns of Marital Quality During Later Life

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 344-344
Author(s):  
Jennifer Bulanda ◽  
Taka Yamashita ◽  
J Scott Brown
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Marital Quality ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Marital Stability ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Life Course

Abstract Although earlier cross-sectional studies suggested a U-shaped curve in marital quality over the life course, recent longitudinal studies find stability or continual decline (Proulx, Ermer, & Kanter, 2017). It is important to better understand patterns of marital quality during later life, as marital quality is associated with older adults’ marital stability, health, and longevity. However, few studies have utilized couple-level data to examine marital quality trajectories, and only one has examined dyadic patterns during later life (Wickrama et al., 2020). We use nationally-representative data from the 2006-2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine positive and negative dimensions of marital quality among a sample of continuously-married couples over age 50 in which both partners provided data on marital quality at three time points (n = 1,389 couples). A survey-weighted latent growth curve model simultaneously examines two marital quality trajectories: own and spouse’s. Preliminary results show that mean baseline positive and negative marital quality are similar for own and spouse’s trajectories. Although growth rates are statistically non-significant for positive marital quality, the variance of growth rate is statistically significant for spouse’s trajectory (0.001, p < 0.05), and greater baseline own positive marital quality is associated with negative growth of spouse’s positive marital quality. Growth rates are similar for own and spouse’s trajectories of negative marital quality, and variance of growth rate is statistically significant for spouse’s negative marital quality trajectory. Results point to stability in marital quality over time, and suggest the importance of using couple-level data.

The five Cs of positive youth development in Norway

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 559-569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Holsen ◽  
John Geldhof ◽  
Torill Larsen ◽  
Elisabeth Aardal
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Youth Development ◽  
Positive Youth Development ◽  
The United States ◽  
Positive Development ◽  
School Students ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
The Us ◽  
Five Cs ◽  
Using Data

As the field of positive youth development (PYD) emerges internationally, models of PYD designed for use in the US must be extended to diverse contexts. For instance, a robust body of evidence supports Lerner and colleagues’ Five Cs Model of PYD in the US, but it remains unclear whether the Five Cs Model can validly capture positive development in other contexts. In this article we examined the Five Cs of PYD using data from 1195 upper secondary school students (ages 16 to 19) in Norway and 839 participants who took part in the 4-H Study of PYD in the United States. Despite some differences, the tests of weak and strong measurement invariance do suggest that the overarching PYD factor as well as a majority of the Cs, retain their qualitative interpretation between the two samples. We next examined correlations between the full battery of PYD items administered to the Norwegian sample and three relevant criterion measures: Anxiety and Depressive symptoms; Life Satisfaction; and Empowerment. The residual Cs tended to correlate positively with indicators of adaptive development and negatively with maladaptive outcomes. The one exception was a positive correlation between Caring and Anxiety and Depressive symptoms. These findings are discussed. Measuring the same constructs in the same way across countries is a prerequisite for studying cultural differences and similarities in development. This study thus represents a step forward in the application of PYD research among diverse youth.

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