For Better or for Worse: Health and Marital Quality during Midlife

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (10) ◽  
pp. 1625-1635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eunjin L. Tracy ◽  
Rebecca L. Utz
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Multilevel Modeling ◽  
Marital Quality ◽  
Health Benefit ◽  
Marital Relationship ◽  
The United States ◽  
Marital Support ◽  
Married Individuals ◽  
Marital Strain

Objective: To examine how changes in health are associated with marital quality over a 20-year period of midlife. Background: The health benefit associated with marriage (compared to non-marriage) is well established. Less work has explored how health and changes in a couple’s health are associated with the marital relationship. Method: We used a sample of continuously married individuals who participated in three waves of the Midlife in the United States study ( n = 1768). Multilevel modeling separated within-person changes and between-person differences in the effect of health on marital quality during midlife and older ages. Results: Marital support was lower and marital strain was higher for those with worse health relative to peers. Marital quality decreased when health decreased. Effects were particularly strong when spouses’ health statuses became more discrepant. Conclusion: Health—of both self and partner—plays an important role in determining the marital quality of married persons during the midlife years.

scholarly journals Food Bank Donations in the United States: A Landscape Review of Federal Policies

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3764
Author(s):  
Katelin M. Hudak ◽  
Emily Friedman ◽  
Joelle Johnson ◽  
Sara E. Benjamin-Neelon
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Food System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Food Banks ◽  
Food Bank ◽  
Federal Policies ◽  
Food And Beverage

Rates of food insecurity have increased substantially in the United States (US), and more families are turning to the charitable food system to help meet their needs. Prior studies have examined the nutritional quality of foods offered through food banks, but little is known about what government policies may shape the healthy food donation landscape. The purpose of this study was to review US federal policies that impact food and beverage donations to food banks and assess whether policies encourage healthy food donations. In spring 2020, two researchers independently reviewed federal food and beverage donation policies using predefined search terms in two legal databases. We identified six categories of policies based on the existing food donation literature and themes that emerged in the policy review. We identified 42 federal policies spanning six categories that addressed food and beverage donations to food banks. The largest category was “government programs,” with 19 (45%) policies. The next largest category was “donation via schools,” with 12 (29%) policies. However, no policies specifically addressed the nutritional quality of food donations. There is an opportunity for the federal government to strengthen food bank donation policies and improve the nutritional quality of donated foods and beverages.

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