Transcript gender and mental illness

MARRIAGE AND DISTRESS
• BOTH MEN AND
WOMEN BENEFIT
• MEN BENEFIT
MORE
• SELECTION?
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
SM
SW
MM
MW
HOW TELL IF MARRIAGE
BENEFITS?
• CAN’T JUST COMPARE MARRIED TO
SINGLE
• SELECTION OF GOOD MENTAL
HEALTH INTO MARRIAGE?
• MUST LOOK AT CHANGES FROM
BEING SINGLE TO BEING MARRIED
• MUST COMPARE TO GROUP STAYING
SINGLE
RUTGERS HHDP STUDY
(HORWITZ AND WHITE)
• 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
MARRIAGE
• N.J. MARRY LATER THAN REST OF
U.S. WOMEN 25 VS. 23; MEN 27 VS. 25
• WOMEN MARRY EARLIER THAN MEN
- 33% WOMEN; 20% MEN BY 24
• DO BENEFITS OF MARRIAGE STILL
HOLD TODAY?
FINDINGS
30
25
20
DEP
ALC
15
10
5
0
SW
MW
SM
MM
FINDINGS
• MARRIED HAVE BETTER MENTAL
HEALTH THAN SINGLE
• LESS DEPRESSION FOR BOTH
MARRIED MEN AND WOMEN
• MARRIED HAVE FAR FEWER ALC
PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY WOMEN
• NOT SELECTION
FINDINGS (CONT.)
• IMPACT OF HAVING CHILDREN ON
MENTAL HEALTH
• YOUNG CHILDREN RAISE DISTRESS,
THEN NO DIFFERENCE
CONCLUSIONS
• MARRIAGE STILL GOOD FOR
MENTAL HEALTH
• GOOD FOR BOTH SEXES
• NOT SELECTION
• MOST SUPPORT FOR TRADITIONAL
VIEW
DIVORCE
• ABOUT HALF OF ALL MARRIAGES
END IN DIVORCE
• HUGE INCREASE IN 1960’S AND
1970’S; STABLE SINCE 1980
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
• MOST FINE AFTER TWO YEARS
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
SELECTION
• DOES DISSOLUTION LEAD TO
MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS CAUSATION
• OR DOES SELECTION OF WORST
MENTAL HEALTH LEAD TO
DISSOLUTION?
RUTGERS HHDP STUDY
• 592 PEOPLE WHO MARRIED AT
EARLIER TIME
• COMPARES 127 SEPARATED OR
DIVORCED TO 465 MARRIED AT
LATER TIME
IMPACT OF DIVORCE
30
25
20
DEP
ALC
15
10
5
0
MW
DW
MM
DM
FINDINGS
• DISSOLUTION LEADS TO MORE
DEPRESSION AND ALC. PROBLEMS
• MORE DEPRESSION AND ALCOHOL
PROBLEMS FOR BOTH WOMEN AND
MEN
• HARMFUL IMPACT OF DISSOLUTION
SAME FOR MEN AND WOMEN
• NOT SELECTION
CONCLUSIONS
• MARITAL DISSOLUTION VERY BAD
FOR MENTAL HEALTH
• 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