title: Cohort differences in the marriage-health relationship for midlife women.
abstract: The present study aimed to identify potential cohort differences in midlife women's self-reported functional limitations and chronic diseases. Additionally, we examined the relationship between marital status and health, comparing the health of divorced, widowed, and never married women with married women, and how this relationship differs by cohort. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we examined potential differences in the level of functional limitations and six chronic diseases in two age-matched cohorts of midlife women in the United States: Pre-Baby Boomers, born 1933-1942, N = 4574; and Early Baby Boomers, born 1947-1956, N = 2098. Linear and logistic regressions tested the marital status/health relationship, as well as cohort differences in this relationship, controlling for age, education, race, number of marriages, length of time in marital status, physical activity, and smoking status. We found that Early Baby Boom women had fewer functional limitations but higher risk of chronic disease diagnosis compared to Pre-Baby Boom women. In both cohorts, marriage was associated with lower disease risk and fewer functional limitations; however, never-married Early Baby Boom women had more functional limitations, as well as greater likelihood of lung disease than their Pre-Baby Boom counterparts (OR = 0.28). Results are discussed in terms of the stress model of marriage, and the association between historical context and cohort health (e.g., the influence of economic hardship vs. economic prosperity). Additionally, we discuss cohort differences in selection into marital status, particularly as they pertain to never-married women, and the relative impact of marital dissolution on physical health for the two cohorts of women.
authors.affiliation: Foley Center for the Study of Lives, School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University, 2120 Campus Drive, Room 216, Evanston, IL 60208, USA. Electronic address: nicky.newton@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Nicky J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.affiliation: Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Michigan Square Building, 330E. Liberty St Room 4035, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA. Electronic address: linryan@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Lindsay H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403-0232, USA. Electronic address: rthroop@bgsu.edu.
authors.forename: Rachel T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 426 Thompson Street, MISQ 4010, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1248, USA. Electronic address: smitjacq@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Jacqui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D017533:Marital Status; D008393:Marriage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Cohort; Health; Marital status; Midlife women