Tyler Harris and Dr. Timothy Smith
In recent years divorce, abuse, neglect and other family issues have been on the rise. Many of these problems stem from a poor marital relationship. Elder Christofferson recently taught, “We have much to do to strengthen marriage in societies that increasingly trivialize its importance and purpose” (Christofferson 2012). This study seeks to illustrate the physical and psychological benefits of following this counsel. Studies have indicated that marital status can contribute to a decrease in mortality (Jaffe, 2007). Positive social support has been linked to lower mortality as well (Holt-Lunstad, 2010). It would logically follow that marital quality is also associated with longevity. We hypothesized that individuals in a positive/healthy marriage relationship are less likely to experience mortality.
The paragraphs below discuss the (a) methods of the study, (b) results and findings of the research, (c) discussion over the results, and (d) conclusion of the study.
Methodology.
A meta-analysis analyzes data contained in multiple studies from different geographic regions, settings, and/or time periods to draw conclusions about a larger population. This method allows researchers to generalize findings across a very large sample. We used a meta-analysis to generalize the effects of marital quality on mortality across the world.
Various studies often use different methods to report their findings. We searched through multiple databases including Medline, Cinahl, Psychinfo, Google Scholar, and others looking for samples that focused on marital quality and mortality. After searching through thousands of articles, we found 12 articles that we could use. The data reported in these articles was entered into an online spreadsheet. The statistics from each article were then converted into log odds ratios, which were also entered into our spreadsheet. Data from each manuscript was located by a pair of research assistants, and appropriate calculations were made to accurately “code” into a common spreadsheet. A different pair of research assistants checked the work of the first pair. One research assistant from each pair then met and verified each manuscript, ensuring that it was coded correctly. Questions about the data were resolved by our research mentors at weekly team meetings.
After entering the data into online spreadsheets, we analyzed and compared it between studies. The results of the comparisons are reported in the paragraph below.
Results.
Through our research, we have found that marital quality is highly correlated with survival. Just as we hypothesized, a better/ healthier marriage is associated with greater longevity. Many of the articles we searched had different traits to measure marital quality (i.e. measures of stress, perceived support, self-reported marital satisfaction), but the outcomes were usually the same. When we combined the results of multiple studies, we found that quality marriages are linked with lower mortality rates.
Discussion.
Our results show a significantly positive correlation between marital quality and mortality. Like many other researchers, we have speculated why this correlation exists. A healthier marriage may lead to improved psychological support, reduced stress, better care during times of sickness, healthier lifestyles, less risky behavior, etc. All of this can directly or indirectly lead to reduced mortality. Whether these traits are brought about by a happy marriage, or that individuals that already have these traits are more likely to become happily married, is yet to be seen. Our study provides a direction for future research regarding the precise causal relationship between marital quality and mortality. Future research could also explore why this correlation exists, and how much various factors contribute to this relationship. Many questions remain unanswered, but one thing is clear: happier marriages are associated with longer lives.
Conclusion.
As stated earlier, family relationships throughout the world are deteriorating at an every-increasing rate.The traditional marriage and family is becoming the exception rather than the rule. As a result, many people in the world have a negative view about marriage. Our research helps correct this view by providing scientific evidence regarding the benefits of happy marriages. Smoking, nutrition, and physical activity are mortality risk factors that are taken very seriously by physicians, health professionals, and the public as a whole. We present the case that maintaining a healthy marital relationship should be taken just as seriously. Public and private efforts to improve marriages and prevent divorce will help increase the lives of individuals and couples. These efforts can benefit society by improving both longevity and quality of life.
Scholarly Sources
- Christofferson, D. (2012). Brethren, We Have Work to Do. Retrieved from http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/brethren-we-have-work-to-do?lang=eng&query=happy+marriage
- Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Layton, J. B. (2010) Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review. PLoS Medicine, 7(7), e1000316.doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316
- Jaffe, D. H., Manor, O., Eisenbach, Z., & Neumark, Y. D. (2007). The protective effect of marriage on mortality in a dynamic society. Annals of Epidemiology, 17(7), 540-547.