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 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

FINDINGS (RUTGERS STUDY)

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)

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