Research on health in old age finds gender and racial differences in physical and mental health and points to several social factors that can influence health in later life, including marriage.
However, it remains unclear whether the health impacts of marriage differ between men and women or across racial groups in later life. Using the Health and Retirement Study, this project aims to explore the impact of both marital status and marital history on health outcomes, and how gender and race impact these effects. To capture a comprehensive view of health, this study incorporates a wide range of measures, addressing both physical and mental health. Using the gender relations framework, Chapter 2 examines the impact of marital status and history on gender differences in physical health outcomes, including self-rated health, functional limitations, and chronic conditions, of older Americans; Chapter 3 explores the influence of marital status and history on gender differences in mental health outcomes, including life satisfaction, positive affect, depression, and alcohol consumption, of older Americans. Along with the intersectionality framework, Chapter 4 investigates the effect of gender and race intersections on the relationship between marital status, marital history, and self-rated health of older Americans. The results highlight the critical need to consider both gender and race when evaluating the impact of marriage on health outcomes in later life. / Doctor of Philosophy / As the population ages, understanding how different factors affect health in later life becomes increasingly important. While past research has examined health differences across genders and marital status, this study takes a broader approach by exploring the combined impact of gender, marital status, marital history, and race on health outcomes in older adults. Using data from a large national survey, this study finds that marital status and marital history significantly influence both physical and mental health, and that these effects differ by gender. Moreover, gender and race together shape how marital experiences affect health. This research highlights the need to consider both gender and race when studying the effects of marriage on health in later life. These insights are essential for informing policies aimed at promoting healthier aging for all the people.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/121348 |
| Date | 15 October 2024 |
| Creators | Geng, Jing |
| Contributors | Sociology, Calasanti, Toni M., Zhu, Haiyan, Carr, Dawn, King, Neal M., Kiecolt, K. Jill |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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