Abstract
This research was investigating a possible link between marriage and increased physical health. Current research indicates that individuals who are part of a strong marital relationship experience increased benefits to their health with lower complaints of chronic or long term illness or physical handicaps. The research also indicated an additional correlation among marriage, physical well being and religion. This combination of life choices results in an increased quality of life as well as an increased life span. Additional research needs to be performed to ensure that this correlation is more then a statistical anomaly. This research demonstrates the correlation in order to provide a basis for future research.
Introduction
This research paper is attempting to answer the question Does a decline in health affect the marital quality reported by the sick person or by the spouse, as well as what factors moderate the effects of health declines on marital quality. This research is important because it would provide an increased understanding of one of the many factors that can affect a marital relationship. By understanding the relationship between health and marital well being additional support programs could be developed to decrease the negative marital effects that the prolonged illnesses of one spouse can cause.
Humans are social creatures who have experience a wide variety of benefits when involved in social relationships. These relationships provide a variety of benefits such as companionship, shared resources and increased health benefits. When researching social relationships it is shown that the marital relationship provides the greatest significance for improving health when compared to those that are unmarried (Umberson, et al, 2006). However it wrong to assume that any marriage is better then no marriage when considering these health benefit. A marriage that has increased levels of stress or other negative connotations is believed to dame the health and well being of the individuals living through that situation (Umberson, et al, 2006). Among married individuals those that chose to describe there relationship as a distressed relationship exhibited a greater risk for poor health. This risk for poor health when compared to individuals who had experienced a divorce demonstrated a higher risk for poor health then the divorced individual (Umberson, et al, 2006).
In scripture the following quote can be used to understand the relationship between a good marriage and good health. “Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth” (Jer 33:6). When individuals are experiencing large amounts of stress or unhappiness one of the first things to suffer is their health. This scripture while speaking of Jesus could also be used in describing marriages. When a couple creates better communication strategies and begins to repair their marriage the health of the two individuals begins to improve. While this could be as slight an improvement as the decrease in high blood pressure these small changes can add up to increased health benefits. When individuals are experiencing peace and are not in stressful situations they are more likely to exhibit good health and fewer medical complaints. As individual’s age they undergo several emotional and physical changes that a stable relationship such as marriage can elevate the distress that could be caused by these transitions. The first event is the psychological event of aging in which the companionship of marriage provides increased comfort. During this time stable relationships provide an increased level of effect on those individuals well being (Umberson, et al, 2006). Second as individual’s age the immunological impairment increases and the stress of poor marital quality might increase the rate of the decrease of their immune system.
Spirituality
Spirituality can be defined in many different ways. In this paper spirituality will be defined as the spirit of the soul which is often referred to in a religious or moral context. Through this definition individuals use spirituality to connect with a higher power that provides meaning and direction in their lives (Baker, 2003). Individuals that have decided to make the commitment that is inherent in a marriage exhibit a higher degree of spirituality then those that do not decide to make that level of commitment (Baker, 2003).
The first level of spirituality is the participation in organized religions. Through participation in these religious events individuals develop a deeper spiritual understanding which could provide them with better skills for coping with stressful or traumatic situations. As an individual join churches or church groups these religious beliefs provide an increase in physical health and an increased focus on medical procedures and concerns (Baker, 2003).
Effects of Death and Divorce
There are many studies that have shown a correlation between death and increased illnesses of the surviving spouse. However there have only been a few studies done that illustrate the effect of divorce on the health of the participants (Prigerson, Maciejewski, and Rosenheck, 1999). By understanding the effect that a death or divorce will have on the health of the members it is possible to extrapolate that a healthy marriage will provide a form of protection for the husband and wife.
The dissolution of a marriage combined with the poor quality of the marriage leading up to the divorce is associated with the decline of both mental and physical health resulting in the increased use of medical professionals including those in the mental health field (Prigerson, Maciejewski, and Rosenheck, 1999). For individuals in a healthy marriage with few stressors on both parties experience decreases medical complaints. This can be seen in better sleep habits fewer symptoms of depression and less visits to the doctors office. Widowhood has been associated with a decrease in health but not an increase in greater health services (Prigerson, Maciejewski, and Rosenheck, 1999). Women who were separated or divorced did not experience depression but increased use of mental service facilitates.
The end of a marriage increases the risk for both mental and physical health problems. However while the end of a marriage increases the risk for these problems the inverse is also true (Prigerson, Maciejewski, and Rosenheck, 1999). Women who were part of a good marriage with low stress have a form of protection against these medical and mental illnesses.
Marital Status and Health
Individuals who are married have been known to have the best ratio of mental and physical health when compared to single individuals. Individuals who have experienced the least amount of good health both physical and mental health, were those that had been married but either experienced a divorce or a death. The health advantage that married couples experience remains through various stages of life and aging (Murphy, Glasser and Grundy, 1997). The advantages have been seen through several different measures of health indicators. These include mortality, hospital admissions combined with the length of time spent at the hospital and chronic conditions resulting in a decrease in mobility (Murphy, Glasser and Grundy, 1997).
There are three theories that have been advanced by researchers in order to account for the variations in the health status of married individuals. The first of the theories is that through a selection process individuals that are unhealthy are less likely to either marry or remain married for a life time (Murphy, Glasser and Grundy, 1997)
. In this case the individual’s prior ill health is the catalyst for preventing individuals from participating in a marriage. The selection process could also be used to explain the health benefits associated with remarriage. In this case individuals that are unhealthy would be less likely to remarry increasing the statistical advantage of marriage on health.
The second theory focuses on the benefits of emotional and social support that is found through the partnership of marriage. Spouses may focus on increasing beneficial lifestyle choices such as limiting alcohol and cigarettes as factors that could decrease their spouse’s lifespan (Murphy, Glasser and Grundy, 1997). Individuals who are married could benefit increased health due to the social camaraderie that sharing a life with another individual can bring. In many cases older individuals who live alone have a poorer diet and lower moral then older individuals with either a spouse or room mate.
The third explanation for the difference between married and divorced individuals is that the stress of the death or divorce has a negative consequence on the individual’s health and lifestyle (Murphy, Glasser and Grundy, 1997). These increased stressors and the adverse health consequences might be compounded by the social effects associated with this change of status.
In scripture there is a quote “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as they soul prospereth’ (3Jn 1:2), this quote indicates that while a soul is at peace and not in a stressful situation that there health will prosper. When two individuals who are part of a family unit can grow in their relationships with themselves and the Lord they will experience an increase in physical health. Regretfully the inverse of this scripture is also true, when a relationship is growing apart and becoming more distant with more stress the individual’s relationships with the Lord will suffer as well. This disharmony in their lives has the possibility of negatively affecting their health.
Statistical Information
Men who were still living in private household in their first marriage reported the lowest rate of limiting chronic illness until they reached the age of seventy-five years old. After that point the single men in the same age bracket reported fewer instances of chronic illnesses (Murphy, Glasser and Grundy, 1997). Conversely at ages under sixty, single men reported the highest prevalence of chronic illnesses. For women who are living in single households reported the lowest rate of chronic illness until the age of seventy-five. After that point the single women reported less instances of chronic illness (Murphy, Glasser and Grundy, 1997).
Changes in the marital status of individuals in today’s society reflect an increasing amount of divorce and remarriage. Because the long-term illness rates are higher among individuals who experienced a divorced and then a second or third marriage as this population grows health care providers should increase the illness prevention education programs in order to decrease the risks that this population is prone toward.
Effect of Illness on Marriage
Several explanations that can be used to explain why there can be a notable decline in the health and marital satisfaction of married couples due to a prolonged illness. While the effects that a change in a spouse’s health can have on the quality of marital satisfaction can be more pronounced in some couples then by others understanding that these effects are an experienced in a variety of ways will increase the effectiveness of a program (Booth and Johnson, 1994).
The first explanation is that declines in healthy will typically involve some impairment in everyday functions which will result in fewer hours worked contributing to a decreased income. The decrease in income can cause the income to be diverted from regular expenses to cover the medical expenses. It is a well known correlation that declines in income combined with financial hardships is known to have adverse effects on marital quality (Booth and Johnson, 1994).
The second explanation focuses on the change in the division of labor in the household that is a result of a long or protracted illness. The individual that is healthy becomes responsible for maintaining a source of income provides transportation and support for the ill individual and then also has to maintain the household. These increased responsibilities combined with a stressful situation can become a source of marital unhappiness especially if the healthy individual feels that the division of labor is unfair or demining to their partnership (Booth and Johnson, 1994).
The third explanation is that an individual whose health is declining may not be able to participate in as many activates outside the home as the couple had previously. Shopping, vacations, and evenings out may be the result of declining health or income. By spending less time together engaged in pleasant activities can result in a decline in marital happiness (Booth and Johnson, 1994).
The fourth explanation is that declines in health are often associated with depression. Symptoms of depression can include increased moodiness, quick anger, decrease in communication and hypercritical behavior. These forms of behavior are known to interfere with the overall quality of a relationship (Booth and Johnson, 1994).
Marital Strengths
In order for marriages to succeed it is important that there is stability and a high quality level. Some research has shown that by increasing the amount of time spent working toward a stronger marriage include such actives as spending time together, communication, religious orientation and positive crisis management skills. By focusing on increasing the religious orientation of the family the family is able to increase the level of appreciation, commitment to family and ability to handle crisis (Robinson and Blanton, 1993).
When a family or marriage is going through a stressful situation such as a long term illness having the ability to continue to communicate will increase the health of the relationship. Therefore even during a period of high stress and financial instability marriages can be strengthened instead of torn down (Robinson and Blanton, 1993).
Health and Religion
In researching the topic marriage and increased health the research has consistently shown that one of the most positive benefits of marriage is increased physical health resulting in a longer life. In comparison with unmarried people, married individuals are less likely to suffer from a long term illness such as cancer or heart disease (Waite and Lehrer, 2003). They experience fewer physical complaints and also have a decreased risk of death from various occurrences. When a longitudinal analysis was conducted with a large national sample married individuals were documented to have a lower mortality rate then those that were not married (Waite and Lehrer, 2003).
There is also a correlation of increased health with increased involvement with religious organizations. Individuals with a strong focus on religion have demonstrated increased health benefits on such diverse medical complaints as stroke, heart disease and cancer (Waite and Lehrer, 2003). Individuals with a strong religious inclination also demonstrate increased levels of self-esteem, lower incidences of depression and decreased dependencies on alcohol and drug abuse (Waite and Lehrer, 2003).
Recent studies have also demonstrated a correlation between mental health and happiness. This body of research suggests that individuals who choose to get married and remain married to the same person enjoy better mental health then those that either never were married or who were divorced (Waite and Lehrer, 2003). This research indicates that there are significant improvements in an individual’s emotional health and well being through the course of a marriage. This emotional well being shows a marked decline when the union is severed (Waite and Lehrer, 2003).
While the body of research will continue to grow and develop, the current research demonstrates that individuals who attended a religious service more then once and week compared to those who never attended experience an additional seven years of life (Waite and Lehrer, 2003). When a strong connection to a religious organization combined with a strong marriage current research indicates that individuals can extend their life expectancy for up to twenty years (Waite and Lehrer, 2003).
Conclusion
There is a large body of evidence that shows that there is a correlation between increased health and marital relationships. While it is true that not all marital relationships are equally beneficial to increasing the health of the husband and wife, a happily married couple will receive additional health benefits. The negative aspects of marriage appear to create more of a negative effect on the married couple as the couple ages.
The life course perspective suggests that men and women experience relationships differently across the life span in ways that have the possibility of affecting both the marital quality and health consequences. Because research has shown that women are more likely to react poorly to marital stress maintaining the marriage at a high level through effective communication and other good habits will create a stronger effect in the promotion of good health for both the husband and the wife.
A secondary consideration when comparing men and women is that women are more likely to seek outside assistance if their marriage is experiencing difficulties. While this assistance might be in the form of advice from friends rather then from a licensed mental health professional this release of frustrations and complaints might provided the necessary release of stress allowing their immune system to better handle other factors that could cause it to become weaker and more susceptible to illness.
In analyzing the research it has been demonstrated that there is a strong correlation between marriage, strong religious tendencies and increased health. This research indicates that additional research would prove beneficial in understanding these correlations. A larger group study would assist in determining if these correlations are statistical anomalies or if the combination of strong involvement in organized religion and a stable marriage can positively impact physical well being.
References
Baker, David C. (2003). Studies of the Inner Life: The Impact of Spirituality on Quality of Life. Quality of Life Research. 12, 51-57.
Booth, Alan and Johnson, David R. (1994).Declining Health and Marital Quality. Journal of Marriage and the Family 56(1), 218 – 223.
Murphy, Mike; Glasser, Karen; and Grundy, Emily. (1997). Marital Status and Long- Term Illness in Great Britain. Journal of Marriage and the Family. 59 (1), 156 – 164.
Prigerson, Holly G, Maciejewski, Paul K and Rosenheck, Robert A. (1999) the Effects of Marital Dissolution and Marital Quality on Health Service Use among Women. Medical Care. 37(9), 858-873.
Robinson, Linda C and Blanton, Priscilla W. (1993). Marital Strengths in Enduring Marriages. Family Relations. 42(1), 38-45.
Umberson, Debra; Williams, Kristi; Powers, Daniel A; Liu, Hui and Needham, Belinda. (2006). Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 47(1), 1-16.
Waite, Linda J and Lehrer, Evelyn L. (2003). The Benefits from Marriage and Religion in the United States: A Comparative Analysis. Population and Development Review. 29(2), 255-275.