Impact of Marital Status on 20-Year Subjective Well-being Trajectories

Abstract

Background: It is well-known that marital status has a significant impact on subjective well-being (SWB). However, research examining the long-term influence of marital status on SWB after spinal cord injury (SCI) is limited. Objective: To identify the relationship between marital status and SWB trajectories over time, using 20 years of longitudinal data. Methods: We conducted a cohort study, including 1,032 participants surveyed 5 times in 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, and 2013. Participants were identified from outpatient records of 2 Midwestern hospitals and 1 Southeastern specialty hospital. The Life Situation Questionnaire-Revised (LSQ-R) was used to measure multiple aspects of SWB. A multilevel model was applied to analyze the 5 repeated measurements. Results: The married or cohabitating participants enjoyed the best SWB at baseline, but their home satisfaction and global satisfaction declined over time and their social isolation increased slightly. For divorced, separated, or widowed people, the negative effects of marital loss attenuated over time. For single individuals, SWB, except for environmental barriers, did not change positively over time if they remained single. Conclusions: Using longitudinal data with 5 repeated measurements, our study showed a complicated relationship between marital and relationship status with SWB and how these relationships change over time for people with chronic SCI.

<p>Subjective health and quality of life among elderly people living with chronic multimorbidity and difficulty in activities of daily living in rural South Africa</p>

“…Unlike some previous research, marital status did not show any association with health or QoL either among men or among women 35,36. Married individuals generally show better subjective physical and emotional health because of their greater economic resources and more social support 35. In contrast to the present findings, a multi-country study based on World Health Survey showed that marital status was significantly associated with subjective health among both men and women 37.…”

“…Unlike some previous research, marital status did not show any association with health or QoL either among men or among women 35,36. Married individuals generally show better subjective physical and emotional health because of their greater economic resources and more social support 35.…”

Secondary Health Conditions, Activity Limitations, and Life Satisfaction in Older Adults With Long‐Term Spinal Cord Injury

“…As expected, participants who had a partner rated a greater life satisfaction. This finding is well in line with previous research, both in people with SCI and noninjured populations [58‐61]. There are plausible explanations to why this association is so commonly described.…”

Global and domain-specific life satisfaction among older adults with long-term spinal cord injury

“…greater satisfaction with many of the assessed life domains, including life as a whole. These associations have been reported in many previous studies, both after SCI 9,11,12,15,33 and in the general population. 8,21,34,35 A person's life satisfaction reflects the degree to which life goals have been attained, and working and founding a family are important life areas for many people.…”