The significance of nonmarital cohabitation: marital status and mental health benefits among middle-aged and older adults.

TitleThe significance of nonmarital cohabitation: marital status and mental health benefits among middle-aged and older adults.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2005
AuthorsBrown, SL, Bulanda, JR, Lee, GR
JournalJ Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
Volume60
Issue1
PaginationS21-9
Date Published2005 Jan
ISSN Number1079-5014
Call Numberpubs_2005_brown_jgss.pdf
KeywordsAged, depression, Female, Humans, Insurance Benefits, Male, Marital Status, Mental Health Services, Middle Aged, Sexual Partners, Social Support, United States
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: According to the 2000 Census, about 1.2 million persons over age 50 are currently cohabiting. Do these unmarried cohabiting partnerships provide adults with mental health benefits that are similar to those enjoyed by marrieds? We extended prior work on marital status and depression by including cohabitation in our conceptualization of marital status.

METHODS: We used data from the 1998 Health and Retirement Study (N = 18,598) to examine the relationship between marital status and depressive symptoms among adults over age 50. We also examined gender differences in this association.

RESULTS: We found that cohabitors report more depressive symptoms, on average, than do marrieds, net of economic resources, social support, and physical health. Additional analyses revealed that only among men do cohabitors report significantly higher depression scores. Cohabiting and married women as well as cohabiting men experience similar levels of depression, and all of these groups report levels that are significantly higher than married men's.

DISCUSSION: Our findings demonstrate the importance of accounting for nontraditional living arrangements among persons aged 50 and older. Cohabitation appears to be more consequential for men's than women's depressive symptoms.

DOI10.1093/geronb/60.1.s21
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15643043?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Couples/Depression/Housing/Social Support

Endnote ID

12972

Alternate JournalJ Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
Citation Key6996
PubMed ID15643043
Grant ListR21 HD042831-01 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States