1
|
Sharma S, Hale JM, Myrskylä M, Kulu H. Cognitive impairment and partnership status in the United States, 1998-2016, by sex, race/ethnicity, and education. POPULATION STUDIES 2024; 78:167-177. [PMID: 36812934 DOI: 10.1080/00324728.2023.2174267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Cognitively impaired adults without a partner are highly disadvantaged, as partners constitute an important source of caregiving and emotional support. With the application of innovative multistate models to the Health and Retirement Study, this paper is the first to estimate joint expectancies of cognitive and partnership status at age 50 by sex, race/ethnicity, and education in the United States. We find that women live a decade longer unpartnered than men. Women are also disadvantaged as they experience three more years as both cognitively impaired and unpartnered than men. Black women live over twice as long as cognitively impaired and unpartnered compared with White women. Lower-educated men and women live around three and five years longer, respectively, as cognitively impaired and unpartnered than more highly educated men and women. This study addresses a novel facet of partnership and cognitive status dynamics and examines their variations by key socio-demographic factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shubhankar Sharma
- Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
- University of St Andrews
| | - Jo Mhairi Hale
- Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
- University of St Andrews
| | - Mikko Myrskylä
- Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
- University of Helsinki
- Max Planck - University of Helsinki Center for Social Inequalities in Population Health
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yu YL, Juster RP. Spousal Synchrony in Allostatic Load Among Older Couples in the Health and Retirement Study. Psychosom Med 2023; 85:716-726. [PMID: 37409786 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Using national data from the Health and Retirement Study, this study examined interpartner associations of allostatic load (AL) among 2338 different-sex couples ( N = 4676 individuals) over a 4-year period among older American couples from a dyadic approach. METHODS AL was indexed by immune (C-reactive protein), metabolic (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and glycosylated hemoglobin), renal (cystatin C), cardiovascular (systolic and diastolic blood pressures, pulse rate), and anthropometric (waist and body mass index) parameters using the traditional count-based formulation. Actor-partner interdependence models were used to assess interpartner concordance in AL. RESULTS Higher partners' baseline AL was significantly associated with higher own AL both at baseline and 4 years later. In addition, partners' baseline AL was significantly associated with own AL 4 years later only in women but not men. Lastly, we did not observe any significant moderating effect of relationship quality on interpartner AL concordance. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that older couples' physiological responses to environmental stress are not only linked concurrently, but the associations persist after 4 years, alluding to long-term impacts of couples' psychosocial context and physiology on each other.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Liang Yu
- From the Department of Sociology and Criminology (Yu), Howard University, Washington, DC; Department of Psychiatry and Addiction (Juster), University of Montreal; and Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal (Juster), Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Scheckler S. Household Composition Under Strain: Regional Unemployment Rates and the Older American Housing Decision. J Aging Soc Policy 2023; 35:125-153. [PMID: 34420481 DOI: 10.1080/08959420.2021.1941703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
This research explored the relationship between regional unemployment rates and the community-based housing configuration of older Americans. The analysis used the American Community Survey from 2006 to 2016 to examine regions experiencing high unemployment for differences in the likelihood of older adults to live alone, with a spouse or partner, or in a multigenerational household. Findings demonstrated that under the strain of higher regional unemployment, older adults were less likely to live alone and more likely to live in a multigenerational household. Additionally, older adults with a difficulty that could signify a need for support were less likely to live with a spouse or partner, while those without a difficulty were more likely to live with a spouse or partner. Recession-related safety-net policy should target supports to community-dwelling older adults, particularly those living alone, those with more support needs, with lower income, and older renters, because their housing arrangements may become vulnerable during regional economic contraction. Implications during COVID-19 are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samara Scheckler
- Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America Postdoctoral Fellow
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yu YL. Current Marital Status and Epigenetic Clocks Among Older Adults in the United States: Evidence From the Health and Retirement Study. J Aging Health 2023; 35:71-82. [PMID: 35609241 DOI: 10.1177/08982643221104928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: This study examines how current marital status is associated with epigenetic aging. Methods: Data from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study were used to examine marital status differences in the four epigenetic clocks, that is, GrimAge, DunedinPoAm, PhenoAge, and Zhang (N = 3765). Weighted ordinary least square regression models were estimated separately for men and women. Results: Remarried, cohabiting, divorced/separated and widowed older adults showed greater epigenetic aging than the continuously married similarly among men and women. Distinct sex difference was observed among the never married. While never-married women exhibited greater epigenetic aging than their continuously married counterparts, older men in lifelong singlehood showed comparable epigenetic aging to their continuously married peers. Discussion: The findings speak to the importance of marital context for epigenetic aging in later life and the biological risk associated with lifelong singlehood for older women in the US.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Liang Yu
- Department of Sociology and Criminology, 8369Howard University, Washington, DC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Brown SL, Manning WD, Wu H. Relationship Quality in Midlife: A Comparison of Dating, Living Apart Together, Cohabitation, and Marriage. JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY 2022; 84:860-878. [PMID: 35669763 PMCID: PMC9164211 DOI: 10.1111/jomf.12813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Objective This study compared the relationship quality of U.S. midlife adults in dating, living apart together (LAT) relationships, cohabitation, and marriage. Background Unmarried partnerships are gaining ground in midlife but how these partnerships compare to each other and to marriage is unclear. From an incomplete institutionalization perspective, those in unmarried relationships, especially LAT relationships but also cohabitations, face challenges due to unclear relationship norms and expectations which may eventuate in poorer relationship quality than that of the married. Alternatively, cohabitation and, by extension, LAT relationships, offer flexibility and autonomy and thus may function as an alternative to marriage marked by comparable relationship quality. Method Data were drawn from the 2013 Families and Relationships Survey, a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults. The analytic sample was composed of adults aged 50-65 in a partnership (N=2,166). Multivariable models compared the associations between relationship type (dating, LAT, cohabiting, and married) and relationship quality (happiness, support, commitment, disagreement, and instability). Results The incomplete institutionalization perspective was supported for LATs, who tended to report poorer relationship quality than marrieds. For cohabitors, this perspective received mixed support. Although cohabitors reported less happiness and commitment than marrieds, which aligned with the incomplete institutionalization perspective, the groups did not differ on relationship support, disagreement, or instability, supporting the cohabitation as an alternative to marriage perspective. Dating, LAT and cohabiting relationships were remarkably alike. Conclusion This study has implications for understanding the shifting landscape of relationships in midlife which in turn may shape individual health and well-being.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan L Brown
- Department of Sociology and Center for Family and Demographic Research, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403
| | - Wendy D Manning
- Department of Sociology and Center for Family and Demographic Research, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403
| | - Huijing Wu
- Department of Sociology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lichter DT, Qian Z, Song H. Gender, union formation, and assortative mating among older women. SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH 2022; 103:102656. [PMID: 35183313 PMCID: PMC8861446 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2021.102656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents a search-theoretic model of union formation among women, aged 55 and older. Specifically, it provides new estimates of gender differentials in cohabitation and marriage at older ages, and documents recent patterns of assortative mating using data from the 2008-2017 American Community Survey. Our analyses reveal that cohabitation represents a much smaller share of all older unmarried women, all partnered women, and all women in comparison to patterns observed among their male counterparts. The results also reveal highly uneven patterns of union formation by age, race and marital history, which reflect demographically uneven constraints and preferences. Our analyses also document, for the first time, patterns of assortative mating at older ages. Shortages of similarly-aged men, especially among older African American women, seemingly heighten the likelihood of demographically mismatched unions. Older women are less likely to form unions with same-race or economically attractive partners, defined as men having a college-degree. This study shows that older single women, in general, are at a comparative disadvantage in the marriage market, both in forming co-residential unions and in finding partners who match their own social, demographic, and economic profiles. This paper highlights considerable heterogeneity in the experiences of America's older women. It calls for new theoretical approaches that acknowledge the unequal resources and bargaining power among older women in the marriage market.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel T Lichter
- Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy and Cornell Population Center, Cornell University, United States.
| | - Zhenchao Qian
- Department of Sociology and Population Studies and Training Center, Brown University, United States.
| | - Haoming Song
- Department of Sociology and Population Studies and Training Center, Brown University, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Seidenfeld J, Stechuchak KM, Coffman CJ, Mahanna EP, Gladney MN, Hastings SN. Exploring differential response to an emergency department-based care transition intervention. Am J Emerg Med 2021; 50:640-645. [PMID: 34879480 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2021.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify multivariable subgroups of patients with differential responses to a nurse-delivered care transition intervention after an emergency department (ED) visit in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) using an emerging data-driven method. DESIGN Secondary analysis of RCT. PARTICIPANTS 512 individuals enrolled in an RCT of a nurse-delivered care transition intervention after an ED visit. All 512 participants were included in a pre-specified subgroup analysis, and 451 of these had sufficient complete case data to be included in a model-based recursive (MoB) partitioning analysis. METHODS The primary outcome was having at least one ED visit in 30 days after the index ED visit. Two analytical methods explored heterogeneity of treatment effects: data driven model-based recursive partitioning (MoB) using 37 candidate baseline variables, and a contextual point of comparison with prespecified subgroups defined by ED super-user status (≥ 3 ED visits in previous 6 months or not), sex (male/female), and age, individually examined via treatment arm by subgroup interaction terms in logistic regression models. Internal validation of the MoB analysis via bootstrap resampling with an optimism corrected c-statistic was conducted to provide a bias-corrected estimate. RESULTS MoB detected treatment effect heterogeneity in a single subgroup, marital status. Unmarried patients randomized to the intervention had a repeat ED use rate of 22% compared to 34% in the usual care group; married patients randomized to the intervention had a 27% ED return rate compared to 12% in the usual care group. Internal validation demonstrated an optimism corrected c-statistic of 0.54. No treatment-by-covariate subgroup interactions were identified among the 3 prespecified subgroups. CONCLUSION Although exploratory, the results of the MoB analysis suggest that patient factors related to social relationships such as marital status may be important contributors to differential response to a care transition intervention after an ED visit. These were characteristics that the investigators had not anticipated or planned to examine in the individual prespecified subgroup analysis. Data-driven methods can yield unexpected findings and contribute to a more complete understanding of differential treatment effects in subgroup analysis, which can inform further work on development of effective care transition interventions in the ED setting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justine Seidenfeld
- Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation (ADAPT), Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC, USA; Division of Emergency Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Karen M Stechuchak
- Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation (ADAPT), Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Cynthia J Coffman
- Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation (ADAPT), Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Elizabeth P Mahanna
- Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation (ADAPT), Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Micaela N Gladney
- Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation (ADAPT), Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Susan N Hastings
- Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation (ADAPT), Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC, USA; Center for the Study of Human Aging and Development, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Bosle C, Brenner H, Fischer JE, Jarczok MN, Schöttker B, Perna L, Hoffmann K, Herr RM. The association between supportive social ties and autonomic nervous system function—differences between family ties and friendship ties in a cohort of older adults. Eur J Ageing 2021; 19:263-276. [PMID: 35663910 PMCID: PMC9156582 DOI: 10.1007/s10433-021-00638-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractSupportive family and friendship ties can serve different functions and thus might show different associations with an individual’s health. Particularly, older adults might show varying health benefits of different types of supportive ties depending on their marital and retirement status. Our aim is to analyze relationships between different types of supportive social ties and autonomic nervous system (ANS) function, a physiological indicator of health that can help to establish the biological plausibility of the association—measured by heart rate variability (HRV). We present cross-sectional linear regression analyses of a German cohort of community-dwelling older adults (2008–2010; n = 1,548; mean age = 68.7 years). Our findings indicate that supportive friendship ties show significant positive associations (i.e., higher HRV) in individuals that are either not married or above retirement age. Supportive family ties show significant positive associations in individuals below retirement age. Significant results vanish or are reduced after accounting for behavioral/physical and psychological/cognitive indicators. We conclude that programs supporting the development or maintenance of friendship ties might be especially beneficial in unmarried older adults and adults above retirement age.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catherin Bosle
- Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Mannheim Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Hermann Brenner
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Network Aging Research, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Joachim E. Fischer
- Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Mannheim Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Marc N. Jarczok
- Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Mannheim Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ben Schöttker
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Network Aging Research, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Laura Perna
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kristina Hoffmann
- Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Mannheim Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Raphael M. Herr
- Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Mannheim Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Skipper AD, Taylor RJ. Marital and Romantic Satisfaction among Older African Americans. ANNUAL REVIEW OF GERONTOLOGY & GERIATRICS 2021; 41:249-268. [PMID: 35418717 PMCID: PMC9004850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
There remains a lack of knowledge on marital satisfaction of African Americans in general and this is particularly the case for older African Americans. In addition, only a handful of studies investigate satisfaction among couples who are unmarried. Using data from the National Survey of American Life, this study examined the correlates of romantic and marital satisfaction among older African Americans. Findings reveal that married older African Americans were slightly more satisfied with their relationship than individuals who were either remarried or unmarried but in a romantic relationship. Among older African American married adults, older age was associated with higher marital satisfaction, and men had higher levels of marital satisfaction than women. Also, married older African Americans with lower family incomes reported higher marital satisfaction. Region was the only variable significantly associated with romantic satisfaction indicating higher satisfaction for Southerners as compared to those living in the Northeast. Given the limited research on older African Americans couples, either married or unmarried, this study offers valuable implications for individuals and professionals engaging these couples in practice settings.
Collapse
|
10
|
Wright MR. Relationship Quality Among Older Cohabitors: A Comparison to Remarrieds. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2020; 75:1808-1817. [PMID: 31247086 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbz069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Later life marital patterns have undergone shifts over the past few decades, including a rapid growth of cohabiting unions. Despite the increase in older adult cohabitation, research on this population has been slow to keep up. Intimate relationships are linked to well-being and relationship quality is especially important because high-quality relationships offer a number of benefits for well-being, whereas poor-quality relationships often are detrimental. This study compares cohabiting and remarried individuals on two measures of relationship quality. METHOD Using data from the 2010 and 2012 Health and Retirement Study, I investigate the positive and negative relationship quality of cohabitors relative to their remarried counterparts and whether the association of union type and relationship quality varies by race. RESULTS Across both positive and negative relationship quality, I found few differences between cohabiting and remarried individuals. Black cohabitors report higher positive relationship quality than remarrieds, whereas White cohabitors and remarrieds do not differ. DISCUSSION These findings suggest that cohabiting unions and remarriages are comparable among White older adults, but that Black cohabitors may gain more in terms of positive relationship quality than their remarried counterparts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Wright
- Department of Criminology, Sociology, and Geography, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Verdery AM, Smith-Greenaway E, Margolis R, Daw J. Tracking the reach of COVID-19 kin loss with a bereavement multiplier applied to the United States. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:17695-17701. [PMID: 32651279 PMCID: PMC7395491 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2007476117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a large increase in mortality in the United States and around the world, leaving many grieving the sudden loss of family members. We created an indicator-the COVID-19 bereavement multiplier-that estimates the average number of individuals who will experience the death of a close relative (defined as a grandparent, parent, sibling, spouse, or child) for each COVID-19 death. Using demographic microsimulation-based estimates of kinship networks in the United States, the clear age gradient in COVID-19 mortality seen across contexts, and several hypothetical infection prevalence scenarios, we estimate COVID-19 bereavement multipliers for White and Black individuals in the United States. Our analysis shows that for every COVID-19 death, approximately nine surviving Americans will lose a grandparent, parent, sibling, spouse, or child. These estimates imply, for example, that if 190,000 Americans die from COVID-19, as some models project, then ∼1.7 million will experience the death of a close relative. We demonstrate that our estimates of the bereavement multiplier are stable across epidemiological realities, including infection scenarios, total number of deaths, and the distribution of deaths, which means researchers can estimate the bereavement burden over the course of the epidemic in lockstep with rising death tolls. In addition, we provide estimates of bereavement multipliers by age group, types of kin loss, and race to illuminate prospective disparities. The bereavement multiplier is a useful indicator for tracking COVID-19's multiplicative impact as it reverberates across American families and can be tailored to other causes of death.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashton M Verdery
- Department of Sociology and Criminology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802;
| | | | - Rachel Margolis
- Department of Sociology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada
| | - Jonathan Daw
- Department of Sociology and Criminology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Verdery AM, Margolis R, Zhou Z, Chai X, Rittirong J. Kinlessness Around the World. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2020; 74:1394-1405. [PMID: 30423167 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gby138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The first and second demographic transitions have led to profound changes in family networks. However, the timing and extent of these transitions vary widely across contexts. We examine how common it is for contemporary older adults to lack living kin and whether such individuals are uniformly disadvantaged around the world. METHODS Using surveys from 34 countries that together contain 69.6% of the world's population over age 50 and come from all regions of the world, we describe the prevalence and correlates of lacking immediate kin. We examine macro-level demographic indicators associated with the prevalence of kinlessness as well as micro-level associations between kinlessness and sociodemographic and health indicators. RESULTS There is great variation in levels of kinlessness, from over 10% with neither a spouse nor a biological child in Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland to levels below 2% in China and the Republic of Korea. There are strong macro-level relationships between kinlessness and lagged or contemporaneous fertility, mortality, and nuptiality measures and more marginal relationships with other demographic forces. Micro-level associations between kinlessness and respondent attributes are varied. The kinless are more likely to live alone than those with kin in all countries. In most countries, they have equivalent or worse self-rated health and lower education, although there are notable exceptions. There is substantial variation in the gender composition of the kinless population. DISCUSSION As demographic changes affecting kinlessness continue, we expect the scale of the kinless population to grow around the world.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashton M Verdery
- Department of Sociology and Criminology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park
| | - Rachel Margolis
- Department of Sociology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Zhangjun Zhou
- Department of Sociology and Criminology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park
| | - Xiangnan Chai
- Department of Sociology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Jongjit Rittirong
- Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Thailand
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Brown SL, Lin IF, Hammersmith AM, Wright MR. Repartnering Following Gray Divorce: The Roles of Resources and Constraints for Women and Men. Demography 2020; 56:503-523. [PMID: 30632111 DOI: 10.1007/s13524-018-0752-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The doubling of the gray divorce rate (i.e., divorce at age 50 or older) over the past few decades portends growth in later-life repartnering, yet little is known about the mechanisms undergirding decisions to repartner after gray divorce. Using data from the 1998-2014 Health and Retirement Study, we examined women's and men's likelihoods of forming a remarriage or cohabiting union following gray divorce by estimating competing risk multinomial logistic regression models using discrete-time event history data. About 22 % of women and 37 % of men repartnered within 10 years after gray divorce. Repartnering more often occurred through cohabitation than remarriage, particularly for men. Resources such as economic factors, health, and social ties were linked to repartnering, but constraints captured by the contours of the marital biography were also salient, underscoring the distinctive features of union formation in later life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan L Brown
- Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, 43403, USA.
| | - I-Fen Lin
- Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, 43403, USA
| | - Anna M Hammersmith
- Department of Sociology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI, 49401, USA
| | - Matthew R Wright
- Department of Criminology, Sociology, & Geography, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, 72467, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Brown SL, Lin IF, Hammersmith AM, Wright MR. Later Life Marital Dissolution and Repartnership Status: A National Portrait. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2019; 73:1032-1042. [PMID: 27131167 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbw051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 04/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Our study compares two types of later life marital dissolution that occur after age 50-divorce and widowhood-and their associations with repartnership status (i.e., remarried, cohabiting, or unpartnered). Method We used data from the Health and Retirement Study to provide a portrait of later life divorce and widowhood for women and men. Next, we tested whether marital dissolution type is related to women's and men's repartnered status, distinguishing among remarrieds, cohabitors, and unpartnereds, net of key sociodemographic indicators. Results Divorcees are more often repartnered through either remarriage or cohabitation than are widoweds. This gap persists among women net of an array of sociodemographic factors. For men, the differential is reduced to nonsignificance with the inclusion of these factors. Discussion Later life marital dissolution increasingly occurs through divorce rather than widowhood, and divorce is more often followed by repartnership. The results from this study suggest that gerontological research should not solely focus on widowhood but also should pay attention to divorce and repartnering during later life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan L Brown
- Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Ohio
| | - I-Fen Lin
- Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Ohio
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Lin IF, Brown SL, Cupka CJ. A National Portrait of Stepfamilies in Later Life. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2019; 73:1043-1054. [PMID: 29190365 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbx150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Scholars have documented increases in the prevalence and complexity of stepfamilies earlier in the life course, but no one has systematically investigated U.S. stepfamily structure in later life. Guided by a family systems approach, we described the prevalence and composition of later-life stepfamilies. Method The analysis was based on 6,250 married and cohabiting couples participating in the 2012 Health and Retirement Study. We identified the prevalence of later-life stepfamilies, decomposed stepfamily structures, and compared the sociodemographic characteristics and relationship quality of the couples in stepfamilies with those in married families (with only joint children and no stepchildren), paying attention to differences between married and cohabiting stepfamilies. Results Roughly 40% of middle-aged and older couples with children were in stepfamilies. Of all stepfamilies, 86% were married couples and 14% were cohabiting couples. Cohabiting stepfamilies more often included children from both partners' previous relationships, but couples in married stepfamilies more often had joint children. Cohabiting stepfamilies appeared to be the most socially and economically disadvantaged, followed by married stepfamilies, and lastly married families. Despite these compositional differences, partner relationship quality was largely similar across married families, married stepfamilies, and cohabiting stepfamilies. Discussion This study underscores the high prevalence and complexity of later-life stepfamilies and foregrounds the urgency of additional research on this topic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I-Fen Lin
- Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio
| | - Susan L Brown
- Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio
| | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Abstract
We analyze Dutch panel data to investigate whether partnership has a causal effect on subjective well-being. As in previous studies, we find that, on average, being in a partnership improves well-being. Well-being gains of marriage are larger than those of cohabitation. The well-being effects of partnership formation and disruption are symmetric. We also find that marriage improves well-being for both younger and older cohorts, whereas cohabitation benefits only the younger cohort. Our main contribution to the literature is on well-being effects of same-sex partnerships. We find that these effects are homogeneous to sexual orientation. Gender differences exist in the well-being effects of same-sex partnerships: females are happier cohabiting, whereas marriage has a stronger well-being effect on males.
Collapse
|
17
|
Lin IF, Brown SL, Wright MR, Hammersmith AM. Depressive Symptoms Following Later-life Marital Dissolution and Subsequent Repartnering. JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR 2019; 60:153-168. [PMID: 30957562 PMCID: PMC6565490 DOI: 10.1177/0022146519839683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The doubling of the divorce rate among individuals over age 50 during the past 20 years underscores the urgency of studying the consequences of gray divorce and subsequent repartnering for adult well-being. We filled this gap by using the 1998-to-2014 Health and Retirement Study to evaluate how the levels of depressive symptoms changed following gray divorce versus widowhood. Individuals who divorced or became widowed already had experienced higher levels of depressive symptoms before dissolution relative to those who remained married. Compared with those who became widowed, those who transitioned to divorce experienced a lower elevation and a shorter time to recovery in depressive symptoms. When repartnering, both groups experienced similar magnitudes of initial reduction and subsequent rates of increase. Both the negative consequences of marital dissolution and the beneficial effects of repartnership for mental health persisted for several years, although ultimately they reverted to their predissolution levels of depressive symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I-Fen Lin
- 1 Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA
| | - Susan L Brown
- 1 Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Relationship quality and functional limitations among older adults with cardiovascular disease in the United States of America. AGEING & SOCIETY 2019. [DOI: 10.1017/s0144686x19000163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AbstractSubstantial research shows that cardiovascular disease is a major cause of disability in the United States of America (USA) and worldwide. Despite the well-documented significance of intimate partnerships for cardiovascular health and disease management, how relationship quality contributes to the functional health of older adults diagnosed with cardiovascular disease is much less understood than mental health and mortality risk. Informed by the disablement process model and the lifecourse perspective, this study examines the association between relationship quality and functional limitations among partnered older adults aged 50 years and older diagnosed with cardiovascular disease in the USA. Data are from the Health and Retirement Study, 2006–2012 (N = 1,355). Multi-level linear regression analyses show that baseline negative relationship quality is significantly associated with increased functional limitations over the two- and four-year follow-ups. Additionally, the link between negative relationship quality and functional limitations is stronger among older adults with lower household income over a two-year span, compared to their higher-income counterparts, suggesting that these older adults are doubly disadvantaged by higher relationship strains and limited economic resources. Our findings demonstrate the significance of relationship quality for the functional health of older adults with cardiovascular disease and shed light on the importance of marriage/partnerships as an important social context for a critical stage in the disablement process (i.e. functional limitations).
Collapse
|
19
|
Fredriksen-Goldsen KI, Kim HJ. The Science of Conducting Research With LGBT Older Adults- An Introduction to Aging with Pride: National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender Study (NHAS). THE GERONTOLOGIST 2018; 57:S1-S14. [PMID: 28087791 DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnw212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Hyun-Jun Kim
- School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Perelli-Harris B, Hoherz S, Addo F, Lappegård T, Evans A, Sassler S, Styrc M. Do Marriage and Cohabitation Provide Benefits to Health in Mid-Life? The Role of Childhood Selection Mechanisms and Partnership Characteristics Across Countries. POPULATION RESEARCH AND POLICY REVIEW 2018; 37:703-728. [PMID: 30546176 PMCID: PMC6267248 DOI: 10.1007/s11113-018-9467-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Extensive research has found that marriage provides health benefits to individuals, particularly in the U.S. The rise of cohabitation, however, raises questions about whether simply being in an intimate co-residential partnership conveys the same health benefits as marriage. Here, we use OLS regression to compare differences between partnered and unpartnered, and cohabiting and married individuals with respect to self-rated health in mid-life, an understudied part of the lifecourse. We pay particular attention to selection mechanisms arising in childhood and characteristics of the partnership. We compare results in five countries with different social, economic, and policy contexts: the U.S. (NLSY), U.K. (UKHLS), Australia (HILDA), Germany (SOEP), and Norway (GGS). Results show that living with a partner is positively associated with self-rated health in mid-life in all countries, but that controlling for children, prior separation, and current socio-economic status eliminates differences in Germany and Norway. Significant differences between cohabitation and marriage are only evident in the U.S. and the U.K., but controlling for childhood background, union duration, and prior union dissolution eliminates partnership differentials. The findings suggest that cohabitation in the U.S. and U.K., both liberal welfare regimes, seems to be very different than in the other countries. The results challenge the assumption that only marriage is beneficial for health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brienna Perelli-Harris
- University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- School of Social Sciences, University of Southampton, Bldg 58, Room 4013, Southampton, SO17 1BJ UK
| | | | | | | | - Ann Evans
- Australian National University, Canberra, ACT Australia
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Papernow PL. Recoupling in Mid-Life and Beyond: From Love at Last to Not So Fast. FAMILY PROCESS 2018; 57:52-69. [PMID: 28887892 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Divorce rates have dropped in the United States, except for couples over 50 where they are rising steeply, along with rates of late-life recoupling. Both stepcouples and their young adult and adult children in new older stepfamilies are often surprised to find themselves facing many of the same challenges that younger stepfamilies do. Some challenges are even intensified by the decades-long relationships and additional layers of extended family that come with recoupling after mid-life. Stepfamilies formed in later life must also negotiate decisions about estate planning and elder care among stakeholders who often have sharply divergent agendas before there is time to establish trusting relationships. This article describes the "normal" challenges facing stepcouples who come together over age 50. It provides evidence-informed guidance for therapists in meeting these challenges on three levels of clinical work: Psychoeducational, Interpersonal, and Intrapsychic/Intergenerational. As in younger stepfamilies, "family therapy" must usually begin in subsystems-often the adult stepcouple and parent-adult child. The article then describes a particularly fraught subgroup of recouplers: over-50 fathers and their new partners, where the dad's young adult or adult daughter is very unhappy with his new relationship. In these latter stepfamilies, father-daughter repair must precede stepfamily bonding. Stepfamilies that are preceded by a partner's death and those that begin with affairs are also discussed. Finally, some "easy wrong turns" for therapists are described.
Collapse
|
22
|
Abstract
Increasingly, older adults are unmarried, which could mean a larger share is at risk of economic disadvantage. Using data from the 2010 Health and Retirement Study, we chart the diverse range of marital biographies, capturing marital sequences and timing, of adults who are age eligible for Social Security and examine three indicators of economic well-being: Social Security receipt, Social Security benefit levels, and poverty status. Partnereds are disproportionately likely to receive Social Security and they enjoy relatively high Social Security benefits and very low poverty levels. Among singles, economic well-being varies by marital biography and gender. Gray divorced and never-married women face considerable economic insecurity. Their Social Security benefits are relatively low, and their poverty rates are quite high (over 25%), indicating Social Security alone is not sufficient to prevent these women from falling into poverty. By comparison, gray widoweds are the most advantaged singles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I-Fen Lin
- 1 Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA
| | - Susan L Brown
- 1 Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA
| | - Anna M Hammersmith
- 1 Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Verdery AM, Margolis R. Projections of white and black older adults without living kin in the United States, 2015 to 2060. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:11109-11114. [PMID: 28973934 PMCID: PMC5651770 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1710341114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Close kin provide many important functions as adults age, affecting health, financial well-being, and happiness. Those without kin report higher rates of loneliness and experience elevated risks of chronic illness and nursing facility placement. Historical racial differences and recent shifts in core demographic rates suggest that white and black older adults in the United States may have unequal availability of close kin and that this gap in availability will widen in the coming decades. Whereas prior work explores the changing composition and size of the childless population or those without spouses, here we consider the kinless population of older adults with no living close family members and how this burden is changing for different race and sex groups. Using demographic microsimulation and the United States Census Bureau's recent national projections of core demographic rates by race, we examine two definitions of kinlessness: those without a partner or living children, and those without a partner, children, siblings, or parents. Our results suggest dramatic growth in the size of the kinless population as well as increasing racial disparities in percentages kinless. These conclusions are driven by declines in marriage and are robust to different assumptions about the future trajectory of divorce rates or growth in nonmarital partnerships. Our findings draw attention to the potential expansion of older adult loneliness, which is increasingly considered a threat to population health, and the unequal burden kinlessness may place on black Americans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashton M Verdery
- Department of Sociology and Criminology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802;
| | - Rachel Margolis
- Department of Sociology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Abstract
Older adults are at the forefront of family change as a declining share experiences lifelong marriage and rates of cohabitation and divorce in later life continue to rise. The goal of this article is to review recent scholarship on marriage, cohabitation, and divorce among older adults and identify directions for future research. The varied family experiences characterizing the later life course demonstrate the importance of moving beyond marital status to capture additional dimensions of the marital biography, including transitions, timing, duration, and sequencing. Cohabitation operates as an alternative to marriage for older adults and is increasingly replacing remarriage following divorce or widowhood. The gray divorce rate has doubled in recent decades as older adults abandon marriage in favor of unmarried partnerships or singlehood. The retreat from marriage among older adults raises important questions about the ramifications of family change for health and well-being as well as access to caregivers given that spouses historically have been the primary source of care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan L Brown
- Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Ohio
| | - Matthew R Wright
- Department of Criminology, Sociology, and Geography, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Arkansas
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Carr D, Cornman JC, Freedman VA. Disability and Activity-related Emotion in Later Life: Are Effects Buffered by Intimate Relationship Support and Strain? JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR 2017; 58:387-403. [PMID: 29164961 PMCID: PMC5963511 DOI: 10.1177/0022146517713551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
We use daily diary data from the Disability and Use of Time supplement to the 2013 Panel Study of Income Dynamics ( n = 1,162) to evaluate (1) the extent to which marital/partner support and strain moderate the effects of disability on five activity-related emotions (happiness, calm, sadness, frustration, worry) and overall negative and positive emotion among older married, cohabiting, and dating persons and (2) whether such patterns differ significantly by gender. Marital support buffers against negative emotions and increases feelings of calm among severely impaired women. By contrast, support intensifies negative emotions and decreases feelings of calm among severely impaired men. Relationship strain also intensifies the effect of severe impairment on men's frustration, sadness, worry, and negative mood but has negligible effects on the negative emotions of men with low impairment and women. Frequent support and criticism may threaten highly impaired older men's sense of autonomy and emotional well-being.
Collapse
|
26
|
Wright MR, Brown SL. Psychological Well-Being among Older Adults: The Role of Partnership Status. JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY 2017; 79:833-849. [PMID: 28626245 PMCID: PMC5469370 DOI: 10.1111/jomf.12375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Today's older adults are increasingly unmarried. Some are in cohabiting unions, others are dating, and many remain unpartnered. Unmarried older adults are at risk of poorer well-being than the married, but it is unclear whether older cohabitors fare worse than or similar to their married counterparts. Nor have well-being differences among cohabitors, daters, and unpartnered persons been considered. Conceptualizing marital status as a continuum of social attachment, data from Waves I and II of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project are used to examine how older married, cohabiting, dating, and unpartnered individuals differ across multiple indicators of psychological well-being. Among men, cohabitors appear to fare similarly to the married, and better than daters and the unpartnered. In contrast, there are few differences in psychological well-being by partnership status for women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Wright
- Department of Sociology, 222 Williams Hall, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403-0222,
| | - Susan L Brown
- Department of Sociology, 239 Williams Hall, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403-0222,
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Abstract
This study examined the timing and risk factors for subsequent union disruption among individuals who were in a marital or cohabiting union at age 45, focusing particularly on the role of prior union history and children. Using retrospective data on union histories from the 2007 Canadian General Social Survey ( n = 17,194), the results of life-table analysis revealed that individuals in cohabiting relationships faced a greater risk of union disruption in middle or later life than those who were married. Cox proportional hazard models showed that both union biography (duration, remarriage/repartnership) and family biography (children born inside/outside union, child age) influenced union dissolution through separation or divorce, but their impact differed depending on union type and gender. These findings suggest that when it comes to marriage and cohabitation, the middle and later years of life are neither a clear continuation nor a complete departure from earlier patterns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wu
- 1 Department of Sociology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Margaret J Penning
- 1 Department of Sociology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Salari S, Maxwell CD. Lethal intimate partner violence in later life: Understanding measurements, strengths, and limitations of research. J Elder Abuse Negl 2016; 28:235-262. [PMID: 27732523 DOI: 10.1080/08946566.2016.1247402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this article is to conduct a critical analysis of existing family violence literature related to elder abuse homicide, also known as "eldercide." The focus relates to fatal violence perpetrated by current or former intimates. Men are the most likely victims of homicide but are rarely murdered by partners. Older women are most often killed in the home by a spouse or other family, consistent with the notion of "femicide." The Federal Bureau of Investigation Supplemental Homicide Reports and the Bureau of Justice Statistics National Crime Victimization Survey are utilized to illustrate trends by sex over time. Intimate partner homicide-suicide is examined via news surveillance. Strengths and limitations of data and methods are addressed. Homicide trends among the members of the baby boom cohort are predicted based on current and future patterns as they age. To facilitate prevention, researchers are encouraged to move beyond simple prevalence estimates toward greater understanding of complex trends, distinctions, and motivations of these violent deaths.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Salari
- a Department of Family and Consumer Studies , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , Utah , USA
| | - Christopher D Maxwell
- b School of Criminal Justice, College of Social Science , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan , USA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ongoing increase in life expectancy resulting in people living longer after the death of a lifelong spouse along with the stresses of widowhood is likely to increase the phenomenon of repartnering in old age. The aim of this article is to learn about the attributed meanings of late-life repartnering among older repartnered widows and widowers dealing with widowhood. METHODS The experiences of 27 couples (54 participants), in which both partners were widowed, were chosen from two larger studies on late-life repartnering: one took a dyadic perspective (interviewing both partners), and the other took an intergenerational approach (interviewing both partners and offspring). Criterion sampling in both studies used the criteria of widowers who repartnered above age 65 and widows above age 60, remarried or not, living separately, or under the same roof, and who had children and grandchildren from a lifelong marriage that had ended with the death of their spouse. All semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed based on grounded theory principles and dyadic analysis adapted to families. RESULTS Present a grounded model indicating gender differences in dealing with the death of a lifelong spouse. Men tended to experience vulnerability whereas women tended to experience resilience. CONCLUSIONS These findings make an innovative contribution by showing the reversal of gender inequality in old age, and gender differences between widows' and widowers' coping with widowhood, even though both repartnered. They are discussed in light of (critical) feminist gerontology including contribution to theory development and implications for practice.
Collapse
|
30
|
Thomeer MB, Mudrazija S, Angel JL. Relationship Status and Long-Term Care Facility Use in Later Life. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2015; 71:711-23. [PMID: 26577030 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbv106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Most older adults prefer to "age in place" and avoid formal long-term care. Yet demographic shifts, including population aging and an increasing prevalence of remarried and unmarried older adults, could undermine these goals, making it important to consider carefully how and why relationship status relates to long-term care risk. METHOD We fit hazard models to a sample of adults aged 65 and older from eight waves (1998-2012) of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 21,564). We consider risk of any long-term care facility admission, as well as risk of long-duration stays. RESULTS Widowed, divorced, and never married adults have the highest risks of long-term care admission. Remarried and partnered adults have similar risks of long-term care admission as continuously married adults. Relationship status is more important for men than for women, especially when considering long-duration stays. Relationship status is also more significant for non-Hispanic White and Hispanic adults compared with non-Hispanic Black adults. Economic resources and, to some extent, social ties partially explain the association between relationship status and long-term care use. DISCUSSION By addressing the prohibitive costs of long-term care services which enable aging in place (e.g., home health care), relationship status disparities in long-term care may be reduced. Future studies should consider the link between long-term care facility use and relationship status in future cohorts as well as examine how relationship status structures access to a range of long-term care options.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Stipica Mudrazija
- Income and Benefits Policy Center, Urban Institute, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Jacqueline L Angel
- Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Brown SL, Wright MR. Older Adults' Attitudes Toward Cohabitation: Two Decades of Change. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2015; 71:755-64. [PMID: 26307489 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbv053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2014] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Our study tracks cohort change in the attitudes of adults aged 50 and older toward cohabitation from 1994 to 2012. METHOD We used data from the 1994, 2002, and 2012 waves of the General Social Survey to examine the roles of cohort replacement and intracohort change in the trend toward favorable cohabitation attitudes and to examine sociodemographic variation in patterns of support for cohabitation. RESULTS Support for cohabitation accelerated over time with nearly half (46%) of older adults reporting favorable attitudes toward cohabitation in 2012 versus just 20% in 1994. This shift in older adults' attitudes largely reflected cohort replacement rather than intracohort change. Some of the factors associated with later life cohabitation experience were linked to supportive attitudes. DISCUSSION Cohort succession is fueling the growing acceptance of cohabitation among older adults and coincides with the rapid growth in later life cohabitation that has occurred in recent decades.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan L Brown
- Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Ohio.
| | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Manning WD, Brown SL. Aging Cohabiting Couples and Family Policy: Different-Sex and Same-Sex Couples. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 25:94-97. [PMID: 26612973 DOI: 10.1093/ppar/prv012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wendy D Manning
- Department of Sociology, Center for Family and Demographic Research, National Center for Family and Marriage Research, Bowling Green State University, Ohio
| | - Susan L Brown
- Department of Sociology, Center for Family and Demographic Research, National Center for Family and Marriage Research, Bowling Green State University, Ohio
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Living arrangements as determinants of myocardial infarction incidence and survival: A prospective register study of over 300,000 Finnish men and women. Soc Sci Med 2015; 133:93-100. [DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.03.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|
34
|
Canham SL, Mahmood A, Stott S, Sixsmith J, O’Rourke N. ’Til Divorce Do Us Part: Marriage Dissolution in Later Life. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.1080/10502556.2014.959097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
|
35
|
Abstract
ABSTRACTAlthough mobility in and out of intimate relationships has become more common in later life, it has been a neglected issue in social gerontology. In this article, we ask what characterises the formation of new intimate relationships in later life, and whether there are any specific conditions that separate these from relationships in earlier stages of the lifecourse. On the basis of qualitative interviews with 28 persons aged 63–91 who have established a new intimate heterosexual relationship after the age of 60 or who are dating singles, we argue that time constitutes such a central structuring condition. We discuss and theorise two aspects of time – post-(re)productive free time and remaining time – which have an important formative power on new late-in-life relationships. We argue that together these aspects form a central existential structure of ageing in many Western societies – the paradoxical condition of having lots of available free time but little time left in life – which, besides influencing new late-in-life relationships, might also be relevant to other aspects of and choices in later life.
Collapse
|
36
|
Guzzo KB. Trends in Cohabitation Outcomes: Compositional Changes and Engagement Among Never-Married Young Adults. JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY 2014; 76:826-842. [PMID: 26778851 PMCID: PMC4712741 DOI: 10.1111/jomf.12123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2013] [Accepted: 03/01/2014] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Cohabitation is now the modal first union for young adults, and most marriages are preceded by cohabitation even as fewer cohabitations transition to marriage. These contrasting trends may be due to compositional shifts among cohabiting unions, which are increasingly heterogeneous in terms of cohabitation order, engagement, and the presence of children, as well as across socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. The author constructs 5-year cohabitation cohorts for 18- to 34-year-olds from the 2002 and 2006-2010 cycles of the National Survey of Family Growth (n = 17,890 premarital cohabitations) to examine the outcomes of cohabitations over time. Compared to earlier cohabitations, those formed after 1995 were more likely to dissolve, and those formed after 2000 were less likely to transition to marriage even after accounting for the compositional shifts among individuals in cohabiting unions. Higher instability and decreased chances of marriage occurred among both engaged and non-engaged individuals, suggesting society-wide changes in cohabitation over time.
Collapse
|
37
|
Wu Z, Schimmele CM, Ouellet N. Repartnering After Widowhood. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2014; 70:496-507. [PMID: 24924159 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbu060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2013] [Accepted: 04/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study estimates the sex-specific prevalence of repartnering after widowhood. The main objective is to examine the competing choice between nonmarital cohabitation and remarriage as well as repartnering differentials. METHODS The study uses data from the 2007 Canadian General Social Survey and life table methods to illustrate gender and regional differences in the cumulative proportion of people aged 45 and older who repartner after widowhood. Proportional hazard models are used to examine how factors such as socioeconomic resources, region, demographic characteristics, and health associate with the risk of repartnering and repartnering preferences. RESULTS Most repartnering after widowhood occurs within ten years of this event or not at all. Ten years after widowhood, about 7% of widows and 29% of widowers have formed a new union. For both widows and widowers, the rate of remarriage is twice as high as the rate of cohabitation. The exception to this is the province of Quebec, where cohabitation is a more prevalent choice of repartnering than remarriage. There is a weak association between socioeconomic resources and both the risk of cohabitation and remarriage. DISCUSSION Our results confirm that constraints in marriage markets appear to contribute to a gender gap in the prevalence of repartnering after widowhood. Though the widowed prefer remarriage over cohabitation as a repartnering choice, there are important regional differences in repartnering that reflect cultural norms in the social acceptance of cohabitation. Socioeconomic disincentives to marriage do not appear to push the widowed into cohabitation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wu
- Department of Sociology, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
| | | | - Nadia Ouellet
- Department of Sociology, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Abstract
ABSTRACTSecond couplehood in old age is a growing phenomenon alongside increases in life expectancy. Lately, a shift has occurred in that individual diversity of ageing is perceived to depend on the physical and social contexts in which older persons experience change. Thus, the purpose of the study on which this paper reports was to examine second couplehood in the context of old age and old age in the context of second couplehood using an existential-phenomenological theoretical orientation. Twenty couples were recruited using criterion-sampling: men aged 65+ and women aged 60+, with children and grandchildren from a lifelong marriage that had ended in widowhood or divorce, living in second couplehood – married or not – in separate houses or co-habitating. Forty individual semi-structured interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed according to phenomenological tradition. Five sub-themes emerged, demonstrating couplehood and old age intertwining: (a) enjoying life while still possible; (b) living with health-related issues; (c) relationships with adult children: autonomy versus dependency; (d) loneliness: living as a couple is better than living alone; (e) self-image: feeling young–feeling old. Findings support the existence of positive and negative aspects of old age. Our discussion suggests the need to replace perceptions of old age as either a negative burden or a positive asset towards a period of balancing between gains and losses. Furthermore, we acknowledge the role of second couplehood in older peoples’ wellbeing on the personal–micro level through love, the familial–mezzo level through care-giving and the social–macro level by reducing prejudice.
Collapse
|
39
|
Brown SL, Shinohara SK. Dating Relationships in Older Adulthood: A National Portrait. JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY 2013; 75:1194-1202. [PMID: 24319296 PMCID: PMC3848887 DOI: 10.1111/jomf.12065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Dating in later life is likely common, especially as the proportion of older adults who are single continues to rise. Yet there are no recent national estimates of either the prevalence or factors associated with dating during older adulthood. Using data from the 2005-2006 National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, a nationally representative sample of 3,005 individuals ages 57-85, the authors constructed a national portrait of older adult daters. Roughly 14% of singles were in a dating relationship. Dating was more common among men than women and declined with age. Compared to non-daters, daters were more socially advantaged. Daters were more likely to be college educated and had more assets, were in better health, and reported more social connectedness. This study underscores the importance of new research on partnering in later life, particularly with the aging of the U.S. population and the swelling ranks of older singles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan L Brown
- Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403
| | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Seltzer JA, Bianchi SM. Demographic Change and Parent-Child Relationships in Adulthood. ANNUAL REVIEW OF SOCIOLOGY 2013; 39:275-290. [PMID: 25378767 PMCID: PMC4219735 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-soc-071312-145602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Demographic changes in who becomes a parent, how many children parents have, and the marital statuses of parents and children affect the extent to which parents and adult children provide for each other later in life. We describe these demographic changes and their implications for the help parents and children give each other throughout their adult years. The changing demography of US families has increased both generations' need for family assistance among those already disadvantaged and has exacerbated differences between the socioeconomically advantaged and disadvantaged in the availability of kin support. Variations in the marital histories of parents and children also contribute to a divergence between mother-child and father-child relationships in later life. The churning of couple relationships in both generations blurs the boundaries between who is in the family and who is not, threatening the effectiveness of the family safety net among those who may need it the most.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Judith A. Seltzer
- Department of Sociology and California Center for Population Research, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Suzanne M. Bianchi
- Department of Sociology and California Center for Population Research, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Noël-Miller CM. Former stepparents' contact with their stepchildren after midlife. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2013; 68:409-19. [PMID: 23591569 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbt021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Based on the life course perspective and gender differences in stepparental roles, this study examines frequency of social contact between mid- to late-life stepparents and their stepchildren after stepparents' marriage to their stepchildren's biological parent has been dissolved through widowhood or divorce. METHOD Using 5 waves of panel data on stepparent-stepchild pairs from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 12,947 stepchild observations on 4,063 stepchildren belonging to 1,663 stepparents) spanning 10 years (1998-2008), I estimate ordered logit multilevel models predicting former stepparent-stepchild contact frequency. RESULTS Results indicate that former stepparents have notably less frequent contact with their stepchildren than current stepparents, particularly following divorce. Widowed stepparents' contact with their stepchildren diminishes gradually following union disruption, whereas divorced stepparents' contact frequency drops abruptly. Former stepfathers have less contact with their stepchildren than former stepmothers. Finally, I uncover evidence of the moderating role of (step)parents' marriage length and stepparents' number of biological children on widowed stepparent-stepchild contact frequency. DISCUSSION Older stepparents' social contact with their stepchildren is largely conditional on stepparents' enduring marital bond to their stepchildren's biological parent. This study contributes to a growing literature portraying relatively weak ties between older adults and their stepchildren.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claire M Noël-Miller
- Center for Demography of Health and Aging CDHA, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1180 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Brown SL, Bulanda JR, Lee GR. Transitions Into and Out of Cohabitation in Later Life. JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY 2012; 74:774-793. [PMID: 23226875 PMCID: PMC3516860 DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2012.00994.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Cohabitation among adults over age 50 is rising rapidly, more than doubling from 1.2 million in 2000 to 2.75 million in 2010. A small literature provides a descriptive portrait of older cohabitors, but no study has investigated transitions into and out of cohabitation during later life. Drawing on demographic and life course perspectives, the authors developed a framework for conceptualizing later life union behaviors. Using data from the 1998 - 2006 Health and Retirement Study, they estimated discrete -time event-history models predicting union formation (i.e., cohabitation or marriage) among older unmarried individuals (N = 3,736) as well as transitions to either marriage or separation among older cohabitors (N = 377). Those who formed a union were as likely to be in a cohabiting relationship as a marriage. Older adult cohabiting unions were quite stable and unlikely to culminate in either marriage or separation. During later life, cohabitation appears to operate as a long-term alternative to marriage.
Collapse
|
43
|
Vespa J. Union Formation in Later Life: Economic Determinants of Cohabitation and Remarriage Among Older Adults. Demography 2012; 49:1103-25. [DOI: 10.1007/s13524-012-0102-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
This study builds on Becker’s and Oppenheimer’s theories of union formation to examine the economic determinants of marriage and cohabitation during older adulthood. Based on the 1998–2006 Health and Retirement Study and a sample of previously married Americans who are at least 50 years old, results show that wealthier older adults, regardless of gender, are more likely to repartner than stay single. Wealth has no discernable effect on the likelihood of remarrying versus cohabiting. Among the oldest men, the positive associations between wealth and repartnering are entirely due to housing assets. Results suggest that Oppenheimer’s theory of marriage timing may be more applicable to later-life union formation than Becker’s independence hypothesis. Further, economic disadvantage does not appear to characterize later-life cohabitation, unlike cohabitation during young adulthood. These findings help illuminate the union formation process during older adulthood and are timely considering demographic changes reshaping the American population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Vespa
- The Ohio State University, 238 Townshend Hall, 1885 Neil Avenue Mall, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Lin IF, Brown SL. Unmarried Boomers confront old age: a national portrait. THE GERONTOLOGIST 2012; 52:153-65. [PMID: 22298744 DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnr141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Our study provides a national portrait of the Baby Boom generation, paying particular attention to the heterogeneity among unmarried Boomers and whether it operates similarly among women versus men. DESIGN AND METHODS We used the 1980, 1990, and 2000 Census 5% samples and the 2009 American Community Survey (ACS) to document the trends in the share and marital status composition of the unmarried population during midlife. Using the 2009 ACS, we developed a sociodemographic portrait of Baby Boomers according to marital status. RESULTS One in three Baby Boomers was unmarried. The vast majority of these unmarried Boomers were either divorced or never-married; just 10% were widowed. Unmarried Boomers faced greater economic, health, and social vulnerabilities compared to married Boomers. Divorced Boomers had more economic resources and better health than widowed and never-married Boomers. Widows appeared to be the most disadvantaged among Boomer women, whereas never-marrieds were the least advantaged among Boomer men. IMPLICATIONS The rise in unmarrieds at midlife leaves Baby Boomers vulnerable to the vagaries of aging. Health care and social service providers as well as policy makers must recognize the various risk profiles of different unmarried Boomers to ensure that all Boomers age well and that society is able to provide adequate services to all Boomers, regardless of marital status.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I-Fen Lin
- Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403-0222, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Abstract
RÉSUMÉCet article examine la littérature internationale rédigée en anglais sur le thème du soutien social et des soins gérontologiques depuis le début des années 1990. La littérature s’est développée, mais il manque de consensus sur le sens des termes et sur la mesure. L’intérêt reste une constante pour l’aide pratique, les prestations de soutien social, et la demande et les résultats négatifs pour les aidants, avec de plus en plus de questions plus théoriques, auxquelles on accorde de moins en moins d’importance, sur les résultats négatifs du soutien reçu, ainsi que sur les conséquences positives de la prestation de soins. Le soutien social, néanmoins, est dûment reconnu comme un déterminant social de la santé et reçoit l’attention au niveau des politiques—qui sont tous deux d’importants changements à partir de deux décennies—et ajoutent a l’intérêt ce domaine recevra de chercheurs dans les décennies à venir. Il reste de nombreuses questions sans réponses quant à l’évolution du contexte sociétal, mais il est clair que le soutien social des personnes – y compris la vieillesse et tout au long de la vie – se poursuivra dans l’avenir, quoique dans des formes toujours renouvelées.
Collapse
|
46
|
Noël-Miller CM. Partner caregiving in older cohabiting couples. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2011; 66:341-53. [PMID: 21482588 PMCID: PMC3078761 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbr027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2010] [Accepted: 02/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Despite the rapidly increasing prevalence of cohabitation among older adults, the caregiving literature has exclusively focused on formally married individuals. Extending prior work on intra-couple care, this study contrasts frail cohabitors' patterns of care receipt from a partner to that of frail spouses. METHODS Using nationally representative panel data from the Health and Retirement Study (2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006), we estimate random effects cross-sectional times series models predicting frail cohabitors' likelihood of receiving partner care compared with their married counterparts'. Conditional on the receipt of intra-couple care, we also examine differences in marital and nonmarital partners' caregiving hours and caregiving involvement relative to other helpers. RESULTS Net of sociodemographic, disability, and comorbidity factors, we find that cohabitors are less likely to receive partner care than married individuals. However, caregiving nonmarital partners provide as many hours of care as spouses while providing a substantially larger share of disabled respondents' care than marital partners. DISCUSSION Cohabitation and marriage have distinct implications for older adults' patterns of partner care receipt. This study adds weight to a growing body of research emphasizing the importance of accounting for older adults' nontraditional union forms and of examining the ramifications of cohabitation for older adults' well-being.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claire M Noël-Miller
- Center for Demography of Health and Aging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1180 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Abstract
As cohabitation has risen dramatically in the past few decades among adults of all ages, it is possible that middle-and older-aged parents are “learning” cohabitation from their young adult children. The present study uses this theory as a guiding framework to determine if parents are more likely to cohabit themselves following the start of a young adult child’s cohabitation. Using three waves of the National Survey of Families and Households (N = 275), results show that union formation patterns are influenced by young adult children among parents who are single at their child’s 18th birthday. Parents are less likely to marry than remain single and are much more likely to cohabit than marry if they have a young adult child who cohabits. These results show support for the hypotheses.
Collapse
|
48
|
Manning WD, Brown SL. The Demography of Unions Among Older Americans, 1980–Present: A Family Change Approach. HANDBOOK OF SOCIOLOGY OF AGING 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-7374-0_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
|
49
|
Li Q, Wilsnack R, Wilsnack S, Kristjanson A. Cohabitation, gender, and alcohol consumption in 19 countries: a multilevel analysis. Subst Use Misuse 2010; 45:2481-502. [PMID: 20397870 PMCID: PMC3076585 DOI: 10.3109/10826081003692106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
We used an ecological paradigm and multilevel analytic techniques to analyze gender-specific relationships of cohabitation (versus marriage) to drinking in 19 countries (n = 32,922) and to "heavy episodic drinking" (HED) in 17 countries (n = 24,525) in surveys (1996-2004) from Gender, Alcohol, and Culture: An International Study. Cohabitation was associated with elevated risk of HED among drinkers of both genders, controlling for age, education, and societal characteristics. The association between cohabitation and HED tended to be stronger for female drinkers than for male drinkers. HED was more prevalent among younger drinkers, especially among younger women in countries with higher per capita gross domestic product. Cross-culturally, cohabiters deserve special attention in prevention efforts for hazardous drinking, considering both individual-level and societal factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qing Li
- The University of North Dakota, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Clinical Neuroscience, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Brown SL, Kawamura S. Relationship quality among cohabitors and marrieds in older adulthood. SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH 2010; 39:777-786. [PMID: 25382879 PMCID: PMC4224292 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2010.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The rapid growth in cohabitation in recent decades has coincided with a burgeoning literature on the topic. Yet despite a sustained increase in cohabitation among middle-aged and older adults, this group has received little research attention. Close relationships are integral to well-being and the quality of these relationships has consequences for health, especially among older adults. We use data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), a nationally representative sample of 3005 people ages 57-85 to compare the relationship quality of older cohabitors versus marrieds. The two groups are remarkably similar. Cohabitors and marrieds do not significantly differ in their reports of emotional satisfaction, pleasure, openness, time spent together, criticism, and demands. Cohabitors are less likely than marrieds to report that their relationship is very happy. There is some evidence of gender by union type differences. Cohabiting unions among older adults tend to be of relatively long duration. Overall, these results indicate that cohabitation may operate as an alternative to marriage for older adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan L. Brown
- Direct correspondence to Susan L. Brown, Department of Sociology, 239 Williams Hall, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403. ,
| | | |
Collapse
|