Estimated single parenthood rates in Chicago in 1970 and 1980. Single parenthood was related to both low earning ability and very high earning ability. The former was affected by low educational levels and high unemployment. The latter was caused by an increase in women's earning ability. (BH)

Analysis of effect of divorce on suicide using micro- and individual-level data provided some support for both status integration theory (predicting decline in effect of divorce on suicide) and Durkheimian perspective (predicting no change or increase in suicide). Gap between suicide rates of divorced and married, which has narrowed as divorce has…

Using meta-analytic techniques, results were synthesized from 58 empirical sources on the association between being married and subjective well-being (SWB). Results indicated that being married was positively and significnatly associated with SWB. However, the magnitude of this association was weaker than expected. (Author/BL)

Investigated relationship between men's marital status and duration of spells of joblessness. Findings from 2,851 white men followed from approximately ages 16-18 to approximately ages 29-31 suggest that men's marital status exerts negative and direct causal influence on length of joblessness. After leaving employment, married men spent…

Examined marital status and suicide using individual-level data on 10,906 deaths. Found that low marital integration significantly increased odds of dying from suicide, independent of alcohol consumption. Low marital integration also affected suicide indirectly through its association with alcohol consumption. Alcohol consumption was more closely…

Examined the relationship between marital status and overall life satisfaction among black Americans. For women, the married, widowed, and divorced are more satisfied with their lives than are the separated or single. However, when controls are introduced, these differences disappear. For men, the married are the least satisfied persons of any…

Analyzed General Social Survey data from 1972 through 1989 on personal happiness of married and never-married individuals. Showed that never-married males and younger never-married females were happier in late 1980s than in 1970s and that younger married women were somewhat less happy in late 1980s than in 1970s. Trends were weaker than earlier…

Using data from the National Survey of Families and Households, examined characteristics of cohabiting couples, including role of the least educated in leading this trend and presence of children with 40 percent of the couples. Concludes that cohabitation is very much a family status but one in which levels of certainty about the relationship are…

Used data from 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey to examine extent to which economic assets gained through marriage explain inverse relationship between marriage and poor health for women. Married women rated their health higher than did divorced, separated, widowed, and never married women. Findings indicated that much though not all of…

Results indicated that for each of the eight life data'' criteria considered, significant prediction was possible from the personality, motivation, or marriage role variables. (Author)

Estimates the effects of welfare on marital dissolution and remarriage. Data from females indicated that those who received AFDC, food stamps, or other public assistance dissolved their marriages more frequently than those not receiving welfare. The relationship between welfare and marital dissolution decreased somewhat as duration of marriage…

Used data from United States 1979 National Health Interview Survey to examine effects of living arrangements on health of women in different marital statuses. Found that living with proximate adult was related to fewer acute conditions and to lower frequency of illness behavior. Findings suggest that social statuses and arrangements affect illness…

Used data on 374 respondents, aged 16 and older, from Moscow Oblast Survey to examine relationship between alcohol consumption and divorce in Russia. Found that both divorced and single persons had elevated risks of drinking relative to married persons. Relationship was independent of gender, education level, and religiosity. Findings support…

Examined relationship between premarital sexual activity and risk of divorce among women married between 1965 and 1985. Found that nonvirgin brides faced considerably higher risk of marital disruption than did virgin brides. Results suggest that positive relationship between premarital sex and risk of divorce can be attributed to prior unobserved…

The relationship of marital status to well-being is investigated by comparing national survey responses of first-married, remarried, and currently divorced adults. Results indicate both important differences and striking similarities in well-being between the groups. (Author/BL)