Journal of Aging and Health

 

Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

Click here for free access to the SAGE eReference platform!

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (8)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Bookwala, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Bookwala, J.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?
Journal of Aging and Health, Vol. 17, No. 1, 85-104 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0898264304272794

The Role of Marital Quality in Physical Health During the Mature Years

Jamila Bookwala

Lafayette College

Objective: This study examined the role of marital quality in the physical health of mature adults. Method: Participants were from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States aged 50+ years who were in their first marriage. Five dimensions of marital quality and four indicators of physical health were used. Results: Regression analyses indicated that marital quality indices accounted fora significant amount of explained variance in physical health. Most notably, higher levels of negative spousal behaviors uniquely contributed to physical health, predicting more physical symptoms, chronic health problems, and physical disability, and poorer perceived health. Discussion: The occurrence of negative spousal behaviors was consistently associated with poorer physical health. The negativity effect observed regarding the costs and benefits of social support in general also applies to the context of marriage in that negative spousal behaviors outweigh positive spousal behaviors in contributing to mature adults’ physical health.

Key Words: marriage • health • middle-aged and older adults


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Aging HealthHome page
A. K. Ryan and F. K. Willits
Family Ties, Physical Health, and Psychological Well-Being
J Aging Health, December 1, 2007; 19(6): 907 - 920.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 West J Nurs ResHome page
L. Garand, M. A. Dew, B. Urda, J. H. Lingler, S. T. DeKosky, and C. F. Reynolds
Marital Quality in the Context of Mild Cognitive Impairment
West J Nurs Res, December 1, 2007; 29(8): 976 - 992.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Intern MedHome page
R. De Vogli, T. Chandola, and M. G. Marmot
Negative Aspects of Close Relationships and Heart Disease
Arch Intern Med, October 8, 2007; 167(18): 1951 - 1957.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Gerontol. B Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci.Home page
J. Bookwala and M. M. Franks
Moderating Role of Marital Quality in Older Adults' Depressed Affect: Beyond the Main-Effects Model
J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., November 1, 2005; 60(6): P338 - P341.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]