Examined the relationship between marital status and overall life satisfaction among black Americans. For women, the married, widowed, and divorced are more satisfied with their lives than are the separated or single. However, when controls are introduced, these differences disappear. For men, the married are the least satisfied persons of any…

Analyzed General Social Survey data from 1972 through 1989 on personal happiness of married and never-married individuals. Showed that never-married males and younger never-married females were happier in late 1980s than in 1970s and that younger married women were somewhat less happy in late 1980s than in 1970s. Trends were weaker than earlier…

Used data from longitudinal Retirement History Study to compare widowed, divorced or separated, and never-married women and men aged 60 to 65 on 3 dimensions of friendship contacts. Results showed that contact with friends could not be distinguished solely by respondents' gender or marital status. Suggests that adequate attention must be paid to…

Examined data from national stratified probability sample in which divorced and widowed, particularly divorced and widowed men, were oversampled. Compared to married and, to lesser extent never married, psychological well-being of divorced and widowed was poor. Psychological well-being of divorced males, divorced females, and widowed females was…

Used national survey data to examine gender differences in relationships of marital status and of marital quality to psychosocial well-being. Findings suggest that it is quality of marital interaction rather than marriage per se that is more important for individual well-being, and that effects of marital quality are stronger among women than…

Estimated the effects of parental divorce on eight dimensions of psychological well-being of white adults through multiple regression analysis of data from eight recent national surveys. Several statistically significant, estimated negative effects of an important magnitude were discovered, these being somewhat stronger and more pervasive for…

Married (N=50) and unmarried (N=50) cohabiting couples were asked to describe four problems which occurred in their relationship. Despite overall similarity of the kinds of problems reported by married and cohabiting couples, married women were particularly likely to complain that their husbands did not give them sufficient attention. (Author)

Examined incidence and nature of general psychopathology among Nigerian shift workers (N=320). Found shift workers more significantly psychopathological than non-shift workers (p<0.001). Prominent disorders among shift workers were intellectual, sleep, mood, and general somatic disorders. No significant difference could be attributed to gender…

Examined factors affecting belief in afterlife. Data from 1978 subfile on National Opinion Research Center's General Social Survey showed that, controlling on frequency of church attendance and religious intensity, Protestants had highest incidence of belief in life after death, followed by Catholics, and then by Jews. Race, religion, and church…

According to data from the Newly Entitled Beneficiary Survey and the 1979 and 1988 Current Population Survey, much of the gender gap in pensions is caused by gender differences in such labor market characteristics as experience, tenure, and income. Children and marriage have a negative effect on females' pensions, although not for more recent…

Examined United States national survey data from 1972 through 1986 General Social Surveys conducted by the National Opinion Research Center. Found rather steady decline from 1972 through 1986 in positive relationship between being married and reported happiness. Change occurred primarily through increase in reported happiness of never-married…

Examined economic consequences of widowhood for both men and women over time and compared their financial well-being to that of a matched group of continuously married couples. The findings of this longitudinal study indicated that the loss of a spouse had negative economic consequences for both widows and widowers relative to continuously married…

A study of homeless people seeking lodging in public shelters found women more likely than men to be previously or currently married, to have histories of psychiatric treatment, and to have grown up in difficult circumstances. Unlike homeless men, many women maintained some ongoing parental relationship with their children. (GC)

Retirement is recognized as a family experience, affecting retirees, their spouses, and their children. This study examined how the retirement transition affects the middle class, healthy, and financially secure male retiree and his wife. In-depth interviews were conducted with 92 couples from the Boston area in which the husband had been retired…

Assessed effects of widowhood, divorce, and lifelong singleness on income and evaluations of finances at two points, and investigated factors associated with satisfaction with level of living in old age. Analysis of data from two interviews with 2,047 older adults revealed that marital status affected economic circumstances and perceptions of…