Transcript March 9, Social Integration

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
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
MS
WS
M
MW
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)
30
25
20
EDP
LAC
15
10
5
0
WS
MW
MS
M
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)
30
25
20
EDP
LAC
15
10
5
0
MW
WD
M
MD
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