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Journal of Family Psychology : JFP :... Oct 2010Most contemporary studies of change in marital quality over time have used growth curve modeling to describe continuously declining mean curves. However, there is some...
Most contemporary studies of change in marital quality over time have used growth curve modeling to describe continuously declining mean curves. However, there is some evidence that different trajectories of marital quality exist for different subpopulations. Group-based trajectory modeling provides the opportunity to conduct an empirical investigation of the variance in marital quality trajectories. We applied this method to analyze data from continuously married individuals from the Marital Instability over the Life Course Study (N = 706). Instead of a single continuously declining trajectory of marital happiness, we found 5 distinct trajectories. Nearly two thirds of participants reported high and stable levels of happiness over time, and the other one third showed either a pattern of continuous low happiness, low happiness that subsequently declined, or a curvilinear pattern of high happiness, decline, and recovery. Marital problems, time spent in shared activities, and (to a lesser degree) economic hardship were able to distinguish trajectory group membership. Our results suggest that marital happiness may have multiple distinct trajectories across reasonably diverse populations. Implications for theory, research, and practice are discussed.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Happiness; Humans; Linear Models; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Marriage; Middle Aged; Models, Psychological; Personal Satisfaction; Population Groups; Young Adult
PubMed: 20954769
DOI: 10.1037/a0020928 -
The Journal of Adolescent Health :... Mar 2022This study explores links among marianismo, girls' mobility and sexuality, and child marriage among adolescent girls in rural areas of Honduras.
PURPOSE
This study explores links among marianismo, girls' mobility and sexuality, and child marriage among adolescent girls in rural areas of Honduras.
METHODS
We analyze quantitative and qualitative data collected in 2008-2016 for a longitudinal cohort study of rural Honduran adolescent girls. These data include interviews (n = 10 married before age 18) and surveys (n = 563; 155 married early). We also use qualitative data from focus groups in 2016 that included students, parents, teachers, and community members (n = 120).
RESULTS
We find that girls who scored higher on a scale of traditional gender norms were more likely to marry early. Furthermore, our qualitative findings indicate that girls experienced control over their mobility and their sexuality because of rigid gender norms prevalent in their communities. The control girls experience clashes with undergoing psychosocial changes that are associated with increased desire for autonomy and intimacy as well as increased awareness of their sexuality. In some cases, girls believed that marriage was better than staying in their restrictive households, and/or they viewed marriage as the only way to have a romantic relationship.
DISCUSSION
Rigid gender norms that promote excessive regulation of girls' behavior and sexuality influence girls' decision-making processes to enter child marriage. Educational initiatives that challenge sexist gender norms and explain and normalize attraction and intimacy during adolescence should be a central component of child marriage prevention programming for adolescents, parents, and community members.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Female; Gender Identity; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Marriage; Sexual Behavior; Sexuality
PubMed: 35184826
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.11.007 -
The Journal of Adolescent Health :... Dec 2021Child marriage is associated with multiple adverse health and social outcomes. Although evidence suggests that child marriage is associated with reduced participation in... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
PURPOSE
Child marriage is associated with multiple adverse health and social outcomes. Although evidence suggests that child marriage is associated with reduced participation in personal and household decisions for women, less is known about the association between age at marriage and decision-making among married adolescent girls. This study assesses associations between adolescents' age at marriage and two dimensions of decision-making (participation and satisfaction) in the high early marriage prevalence settings of Niger.
METHODS
Cross-sectional data from a cluster-randomized control trial of a community-level program to increase the use of modern contraceptives among married adolescents in the Dosso region of Niger were analyzed. Multiple logistic regression models were used to determine the association of age at marriage with married girls' participation in and satisfaction with decision-making processes.
RESULTS
More than half of married adolescents (N = 796) were married before reaching the age of 15 years. Older age at marriage was associated with adolescents' increased participation in decisions related to economics (adjusted odds ratio: 1.23; 95% confidence interval: 1.05-1.43) and health-care access (adjusted odds ratio: 1.18; 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.40), but not with greater reported satisfaction with their control over these decisions.
CONCLUSIONS
The study suggests that marrying as a very young adolescent places girls in even more disadvantaged positions regarding decision-making. These findings indicate the need to design programs targeted at addressing inequitable gender norms to reduce early child marriage and increase participation in decision-making. Further study of satisfaction with participation in decision-making is recommended, including consideration of whether it is related to gender norms for participation in decisions rather than actual participation.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Marriage; Niger; Rural Population; Spouses
PubMed: 34809904
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.08.007 -
Journal of Family Psychology : JFP :... Apr 2009Although previous research has demonstrated increased relationship distress and separation for cohabiting couples, little is known about specific problems cohabiting... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Although previous research has demonstrated increased relationship distress and separation for cohabiting couples, little is known about specific problems cohabiting individuals encounter in comparison to dating and married individuals. This study examines open-ended reports of 1,252 individuals' (220 dating, 231 cohabiting, and 801 married) relationship concerns using a detailed, reliable coding system. The top 5 areas considered most problematic by cohabiting individuals were problems in specific areas of their current relationship, individual problems, general communication, arguments, and emotional affection-distance. Dating and cohabiting individuals reported similar frequencies of global problems except that cohabiting individuals reported more problems with arguments and fewer problems with relationship commitment. Married and cohabiting individuals had more differences in their reports of relationship concerns; results suggested that cohabiting relationships tended to be both more vibrant and more volatile than marital relationships. However, most differences between relationship types were no longer significant after controlling for individuals' relationship and demographic characteristics.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Communication; Conflict, Psychological; Courtship; Emotions; Female; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Marriage; Middle Aged; Personal Satisfaction; Sexual Partners; Single Person; Socioeconomic Factors; Stress, Psychological; Young Adult
PubMed: 19364217
DOI: 10.1037/a0015364 -
Journal of Biosocial Science Jan 1998
Topics: Adult; Coitus; Female; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Marriage; Periodicity; United States
PubMed: 9746819
DOI: No ID Found -
Nature Feb 2023
Topics: Humans; Marriage; Research Personnel; Work-Life Balance; Male; Female
PubMed: 36788280
DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-00458-7 -
Social Science & Medicine (1982) Dec 2005Among married couples, partners often have similar characteristics and behaviors. Among individuals who smoke cigarettes, it is not uncommon for them to have a partner...
Among married couples, partners often have similar characteristics and behaviors. Among individuals who smoke cigarettes, it is not uncommon for them to have a partner who also smokes. In fact, having a partner who smokes can influence the spouse's initiation of smoking, or return to smoking after a previous quit attempt. Additionally, it is possible that a nonsmoking partner can influence his/her spouse to stop smoking. Participants for this research are from a community sample of couples in the United States. They were recruited at the time they applied for their marriage license and followed through to their second wedding anniversary. Logistic regression models, controlling for demographics, were utilized to determine if a partner's smoking status predicted smoking initiation or relapse over the early years of marriage. Overall, there was some support that a partner's smoking status did influence the other's smoking, although more support was found for spousal influence on relapse than cessation. There was more support for husband's influence compared to wife's influence, nonsmoking wives were more likely to resume smoking in the early years of their marriage if their partners were smokers. Wives' smoking, however, did not predict husband initiation of smoking. These findings suggest that during the transition into marriage, spouses do influence their partners' behaviors. In particular, women are more likely to resume smoking, or return to smoking if their partners smoke.
Topics: Adult; Female; Health Behavior; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Licensure; Male; Marriage; Middle Aged; Smoking Cessation; Socioeconomic Factors; Spouses; United States
PubMed: 15978712
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.05.005 -
BMC Women's Health Jun 2022Marriage is considered beneficial for mental health when stable and of high quality. Yet, it is unclear whether marriage is equally advantageous for everyone regardless...
BACKGROUND
Marriage is considered beneficial for mental health when stable and of high quality. Yet, it is unclear whether marriage is equally advantageous for everyone regardless of marital timing or migrant background. This study aimed to investigate the association between early marriage and mental disorder, defined by outpatient mental healthcare (OPMH) service use, and whether the association varies between migrant and non-migrant women.
METHODS
Using data from four Norwegian national registers, we applied discrete-time logistic regression analyses to study the aims of interest, among 602 473 young women aged 17-35 years. All women were followed from 2006 or the year they turned 17, and until first OPMH consultation, 2015 (study end), the year they turned 35, when emigrated, died, or changed marital status from married to separated, divorced, or widowed.
RESULTS
Results show that unmarried and early married women had increased odds of mental disorder when compared to on-time married women. However, the differences between the early and on-time married women were explained by differences in educational level. There was no significant interaction between marital status and migrant background.
CONCLUSIONS
Differences in mental health between early- and on time married women are attributed to poorer educational attainment of women who marry early. Furthermore, migrant background seems to have a limited role in the association between marital timing and mental disorder. The promotion of formal education among young women could contribute to the accumulation of socioeconomic and psychosocial resources, thus, reducing the risk of mental disorder, also among early married women.
Topics: Divorce; Female; Humans; Marital Status; Marriage; Mental Disorders; Transients and Migrants
PubMed: 35761261
DOI: 10.1186/s12905-022-01836-5 -
Sexual Health Mar 2011Early marriage is common in many developing countries, including India. Women who marry early have little power within their marriage, particularly in the sexual domain....
BACKGROUND
Early marriage is common in many developing countries, including India. Women who marry early have little power within their marriage, particularly in the sexual domain. Research is limited on women's ability to control their marital sexual experiences.
METHODS
We identified factors affecting sexual communication among married women aged 16-25, in Bangalore, India, and how factors associated with sexual communication differed from those influencing non-sexual agency. We ran ordered logit regression models for one outcome of sexual agency (sexual communication, n = 735) and two outcomes of non-sexual agency (fertility control, n = 735, and financial decision-making, n = 728).
RESULTS
Sexual communication was more restricted (83 women (11.3%) with high sexual communication) than financial decision-making (183 women (25.1%) with high financial decision-making agency) and fertility control (238 women (32.4%) with high fertility control). Feeling prepared before the first sexual experience was significantly associated with sexual communication (odds ratio (OR) = 1.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.13-2.89). Longer marriage duration (OR 2.13; 95% CI = 1.42-3.20) and having worked pre-marriage (OR 1.38; 95% CI = 1.02-1.86) were also significant. Few other measures of women's resources increased their odds of sexual communication. Education, having children, pre-marital vocational training and marital intimacy were significant for non-sexual outcomes but not sexual communication.
CONCLUSIONS
Policy-makers seeking to enhance young married women's sexual communication need to consider providing sex education to young women before they marry. More broadly, interventions designed to increase women's agency need to be tailored to the type of agency being examined.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Attitude to Health; Communication; Female; Humans; India; Interpersonal Relations; Life Style; Marriage; Poverty; Sexual Behavior; Social Class; Socioeconomic Factors; Spouses; Urban Population; Women's Health; Women's Rights; Young Adult
PubMed: 21371392
DOI: 10.1071/SH10025 -
Inquiry : a Journal of Medical Care... 2023Early marriage is one of the most important social issues for young women and can have many consequences. The present study aimed to explore the consequences of early...
Early marriage is one of the most important social issues for young women and can have many consequences. The present study aimed to explore the consequences of early marriage among Kurdish women in western Iran who were married under the age of 18. This qualitative study was conducted with the approach of conventional content analysis. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 30 women selected by purposeful sampling. Data analysis was performed using Graneheim and Lundman's method. A total of 389 codes, 12 subcategories, 4 sub-categories, and 2 main categories were extracted from the data analysis. Negative consequences of early marriage include: 1-physical and psychological problems (high-risk pregnancy and childbirth, physical illnesses, depression, and emotional distress); 2-family problems (dissatisfaction with married life, experience of having lots of responsibility, lack of independence in family life); 3-social problems (risky social behaviors, lack of access to social and health services, social isolation, lack of access to a job, and educational opportunities); and 4-positive consequences, including receiving intra-family support, improving living conditions, and opportunities for progress and empowerment. It is possible to reduce problems and challenges after early marriage by increasing the awareness and knowledge of young women about contraceptives and providing appropriate social and health facilities, and services during pregnancy. Providing the necessary training and psychological counseling for them and their husbands on how to deal with personal problems and marital life will be effective to a great extent.
Topics: Pregnancy; Humans; Female; Marriage; Iran; Qualitative Research
PubMed: 37073489
DOI: 10.1177/00469580231159963