GENDER AND MENTAL ILLNESS

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SOCIAL INTEGRATION AND MENTAL HEALTH
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SOCIAL INTEGRATION

• DEGREE OF CONNECTEDNESS BETWEEN PEOPLE IN A GROUP
  (DURKHEIM)
• JOHN BOWLBY - ATTACHMENT THEORY
• PRIMATES AND IMPORTANCE OF ATTACHMENTS (HARLOW)

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MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE
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I. TRADITIONAL VIEW

• MARRIAGE IS GOOD FOR MENTAL HEALTH (DURKHEIM)
• INTERPERSONAL - SOCIAL SUPPORT, EMOTIONAL
  SECURITY, INTIMACY
• SOCIAL INTEGRATION - TIES TO COMMUNITY

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BENEFITS OF MARRIAGE

• ECONOMIC WELL-BEING - MARRIED EARN MORE (WOMEN
  12,000 MEN 7,000)
• CONSTRAINS BEHAVIOR - MARRIED FEWER RISKIER
  BEHAVIORS, MORE HEALTH PROMOTIVE BEHAVIORS

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II. BENEFITS OF MARRIAGE DATED?

• CHANGES IN SOCIAL NORMS
• RISING AGE OF MARRIAGE MORE PEOPLE LIVING ALONE
  STAYING SINGLE AND GETTING DIVORCED NOT
  STIGMATIZED
• RISE OF COHABITATION (10x SINCE 1970)

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BENEFITS DATED?

• MORE CHILDREN OUT-OF-WEDLOCK - 34 IN U.S.(VS. 5
  IN 1960) 50 IN SCANDANAVIA
• HUGE GROWTH OF DIVORCE IN 1960s-1970s, STABLE
  SINCE THEN
• MARRIAGE WEAKENING?

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III. FEMINIST VIEW

• ADVANTAGES ONLY FOR MEN
• MARRIAGE SOURCE OF OPPRESSION FOR WOMEN
• UNEQUAL DIVISION OF LABOR/ROLE OVERLOAD
• SPOUSAL VIOLENCE

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EVIDENCE
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MARRIAGE AND DISTRESS

• MARRIAGE GOOD
• BOTH MEN AND WOMEN BENEFIT
• MEN BENEFIT MORE

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RUTGERS HHDP STUDY

• LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF 1300 REPRESENTATIVE NEW
  JERSEY ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS
• FIVE SURVEYS IN 1980, 1983, 1986, 1993, 1998
• STARTED AT AGES 12, 15, AND 18
• NOW ARE AGES 36 - 42

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FINDINGS (RUTGERS STUDY)
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FINDINGS

• MARRIED BETTER MENTAL HEALTH
• LESS DEPRESSION FOR BOTH MARRIED MEN AND WOMEN
• MARRIED HAVE FAR FEWER ALC PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY
  WOMEN
• SINGLE WOMEN MOST DEPRESSED
• SINGLE MEN MOST ALCOHOL PROB.

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CONCLUSIONS

• MARRIAGE STILL GOOD FOR MENTAL HEALTH
• GOOD FOR BOTH SEXES
• CAUSATION NOT SELECTION
• MOST SUPPORT FOR TRADITIONAL VIEW

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VARIATIONS

• IMPACT OF CHILDREN - MIXED
• MARITAL QUALITY CRUCIAL

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MARITAL DISSOLUTION
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MARITAL DISSOLUTION

• SEP/DIV HAVE HIGHEST RATE OF ALL MENTAL
  DISORDERS, SUICIDE, ALCOHOL AND DRUG PROBLEMS,
  MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT
• SEPARATION MORE DISTRESSING THAN DIVORCE
• DIVORCE OFTEN STRESS RELIEF

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IMPACT OF DISSOLUTION (RUTGERS HHDP)
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FINDINGS

• DISSOLUTION LEADS TO MORE DEPRESSION AND ALC.
  PROBLEMS
• BOTH WOMEN AND MEN
• HARMFUL IMPACT OF DISSOLUTION SAME FOR MEN AND
  WOMEN
• CAUSATION NOT SELECTION

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WHY IS DISSOLUTION SO HARMFUL?

• CONFLICT AND TURMOIL
• SELF-CONCEPTION
• SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS/ SUPPORT
• ECONOMIC DETERIORATION
• CHANGE IN LIVING CONDITIONS
• CHILDREN
• ALL HAPPENING AT SAME TIME

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IMPACT ON CHILDREN

• USUALLY THOUGHT TO BE VERY GREAT - RETROSPECTIVE
• RUTGERS HHDP STUDY NO IMPACT

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VARIATIONS

• PREEXISTING CONTEXT
• PRESENCE OF SECONDARY STRESSORS
• ECONOMIC STRESS, DOWNWARD MOBILITY, LOSS OF
  SOCIAL SUPPORT, FAMILY CONFLICT

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CONCLUSIONS FOR MARITAL DISSOLUTION

• DISSOLUTION VERY BAD FOR MENTAL HEALTH AT LEAST
  IN SHORT RUN
• WORSE THAN STAYING IN BAD MARRIAGE??

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CONCLUSIONS

• MENTALLY HEALTHY TO GET AND STAY MARRIED FOR BOTH
  SEXES
• MARITAL DISSOLUTION ESPECIALLY BAD FOR BOTH SEXES
• IMPLICATIONS BAD - MORE PEOPLE REMAINING
  UNMARRIED, MARRY LATER, GET DIVORCED