PSC 126 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Birth Weight, Dementia, Postpartum Depression
● Is love good medicine?
○ “Love & intimacy are among the most powerful factors in health & illness. I am
not aware of any other factor in medicine … not diet, not smoking, not exercise,
not stress, not genetics, not drugs, not surgery -- that is such a major impact on
our quality of life, incidence of illness, & premature death from all causes” - Dean
Ornisth, MD
● Is marriage good for one’s health?
○ The effect of marital disruption in health
○ Survival rates & health benefits of marriage
○ Why marriage brings benefits
○ Does cohabitation have the same effects?
● Why cohabitation does not produce the same benefits
○ Less financial security
○ Lower emotional investment
○ Depression, alcohol abuse, infidelity are risks
○ Cohabiting unions are less stable
● Cohabitation is hazardous to one’s health
○ Higher rates of depression & alcohol abuse in cohabitors
○ Cohabitants cheat on their partners more often
○ Report poorer physical health (more chronic health problems)
○ Greater tobacco & alcohol use
○ Be victim of violence (2x - 4x ) more likely
● Greater instability of cohabiting unions
○ Probability of a 1st marriage ending in separation or divorce within 5 years is
20%
○ Probability of a premarital cohabitation breaking up within 5 years is 49%
○ After 10 years, the probability of a 1st marriage ending is 335, compared w/ 62%
for cohabitations
● Probability of divorce
○ 1st marriage in divorce after 5 years - 20%
○ After 10 years - 33%
○ Cohabitation breaking up after 5 years - 49%
After 10 years - 62 %
● Statistics show that out of every 100 cohabitating couples
○ 40 break - up prior to marriage
○ 45 will separate or divorce
○ Only 15 live happily ever after
● Social support - other people matter
○ Emotional / appraisal
○ Informational
○ Tangible / instrumental
○ Belonging
● Why does support make a difference?
Document Summary
Love & intimacy are among the most powerful factors in health & illness. The effect of marital disruption in health. Survival rates & health benefits of marriage. Why cohabitation does not produce the same benefits. Higher rates of depression & alcohol abuse in cohabitors. Cohabitants cheat on their partners more often. Report poorer physical health (more chronic health problems) Be victim of violence (2x - 4x ) more likely. Probability of a 1st marriage ending in separation or divorce within 5 years is. Probability of a premarital cohabitation breaking up within 5 years is 49% After 10 years, the probability of a 1st marriage ending is 335, compared w/ 62% for cohabitations. 1st marriage in divorce after 5 years - 20% Cohabitation breaking up after 5 years - 49% Statistics show that out of every 100 cohabitating couples. 40 break - up prior to marriage. Presence of supportive other associated w/ lower levels of stress hormones.
