Differences in people's beliefs about marriage are pivotal in explaining the mental health impact of transitions into marriage, divorce and separation, a new study by University of Iowa sociologists demonstrates.
The scientists find that the negative effects of a marital loss on depression are greater for people who believe in the permanence of marriage than for those who do not. In addition, the positive effects of a marital gain on depression are greater for those who believe in the desirability and importance of marriage than for those who do not. The study is published in the June issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.
"Beliefs are important for stress and mental illness because they serve as a perceptual lens through which life events are interpreted -- whether they are appraised as beneficial, benign, or harmful," said Robin W. Simon, principal investigator of the study.
The scientists analyzed panel data from the National Survey of Families and Households which includes 10,005 adults in the U.S. Respondents were asked how strongly they disagreed or agreed with the statement: "Marriage is a lifetime commitment which should never be ended except under extreme circumstances." They were also asked how strongly they disagreed or agreed with the statement: "It is better to go through life married than single." Respondents also answered questions about their marital status and marital transitions and completed a mental health questionnaire focusing on depression.
The scientists urge that beliefs and values be given greater weight in evaluation of role transitions that are a major source of the stress that may result in psychological disorders.
"Individuals' beliefs about marriage are just one small subset of beliefs that researchers should take into account," said Simon. "Our study opens up other interesting questions. For example, is the transition to parenthood more beneficial for the mental health of individuals who highly value children than for those who do not? Is job loss less distressing for people who believe they should not work outside the home than for those who think they should hold a job?"
The Journal of Health and Social Behavior is a peer-reviewed quarterly publication of the American Sociological Association. For information about the Journal, contact its editor, John Mirowsky, 614-688-8673.
Posted by the Center for the Advancement of Health http://www.cfah.org. For information about the Center, call Petrina Chong, pchong@cfah.org 202-387-2829.
Journal
Journal of Health and Social Behavior