Marital status significantly shapes individuals' psychological well-being, though more is known about its effect on negative than positive dimensions. This study examines the association between marital status and psychological well-being across negative and positive dimensions, using data from two waves of the Midlife in the United States Survey (MIDUS 1995-1996 and 2004-2006). Compared with prior studies, my research examines a more comprehensive set of indicators of psychological well-being: depression, autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, self-acceptance, and purpose in life. I further examine how the associations between marital status and these dimensions of psychological well-being vary by age. I use three analytic samples to examine the cross-sectional associations and effects over time: Wave 1 sample (n=2,801), Wave 2 sample (n=1,737), and panel data containing respondents in both waves (n=1,657). Although the results vary across the two waves and between cross-sectional and panel analyses, results of Ordinary Least Regression (OLS) models indicate that, compared with those in other marital statuses, married adults tend to have better psychological well-being, including less depression and greater self-acceptance and positive relations with others. Differences among the married also are found, with remarried adults reporting more autonomy than continuously married adults. Using the multiple-group structural equation modeling (SEM), the results showed that the association between marital status and psychological well-being only holds for middle-aged adults (45≤age≤60). These findings of variation in the association between marital status and psychological well-being across not only dimensions of well-being but also age groups highlights the importance of further research examining sources of variation and explanations for them. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Sociology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor
of Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2014. / July 2, 2014. / Age variation, Marital Status, Mental health, Multiple-group, Psychological well-being, Structural Equation Modeling / Includes bibliographical references. / Anne E. Barrett, Professor Directing Dissertation; Ming Cui, University Representative; Isaac W. Eberstein, Committee Member; Koji Ueno, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_254441 |
| Contributors | Hsu, Tze-Li (authoraut), Barrett, Anne E. (professor directing dissertation), Cui, Ming (university representative), Eberstein, Isaac W. (committee member), Ueno, Koji (committee member), Department of Sociology (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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