SFL 334 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% SOLVED.
Main findings from Holt-Lunstad article on social connection/loneliness and health -
ANSWERSMarried people have less disability, morbidity (illness), and mortality (they
live longer). The healthiest people are the happiest married. Unmarried people have
higher blood pressure. Social connection is vital for health! Loneliness is more of an
issue than obesity.
Effects of marital status on health - ANSWERSPretty happily married were 60% more
likely to experience poor health. Not too happily married were 225% more likely. Never
married were 61% more likely to experience poor health. Divorced/separated 91% more
likely. Widowed 26% more likely.
Effects of marital distress and health - ANSWERSWith all the documented benefits of
being married, there is substantial evidence that spouses in conflict, unhappy marriages
are worse off than single people. Marital quality is an important moderator. Only those in
high quality marriages received marriage benefits. Negative interactions have a far
greater effect on poor health than positive interactions on good health.
Three pathways linking marital distress and health - ANSWERS1. Psychological
distress: marital conflict is a significant risk factor for depression and anxiety, as well as
other forms of psychological distress. Psychological distress is a major risk factor for
health problems. Marital conflict -> psychological distress -> health problems.
2. Risky health behaviors: people in distressed marital relationships are much more
likely to engage in risky health behaviors like poor eating habits, inadequate sleep,
smoking, alcohol abuse, and nonmedical use of prescription drugs. Marital distress ->
risky health behaviors -> health problems
3. Physiological impairment: marital distress is a significant risk factor for negative
physiological changes in cardiovascular, endocrine, and immune functioning like higher
blood pressure, increase in cortisol, increase in inflammation, and decrease in immune
functioning. Marital distress -> physiological impairment -> health problems.
Effect of religious participation on health, including mortality and suicide -
ANSWERSPeople who are more religious are more likely to be in very good health, less
likely to smoke, less likely to drink, have lower mortality, less depression, and less
suicide. Members of religions experienced less anomie (lack of norms). Women who
attended church at least once a week were five times less likely to commit suicide,
controlling for multiple risk factors.
Problems with cross-sectional studies of marital satisfaction over the life course -
ANSWERScohort effect, older couples may view marriage differently than younger
couples.
, Number of different types of trajectories of marital satisfaction over life course -
ANSWERS1. High Stable-2 (21.5%)
2. High Stable-1 (46.1%)
3. Curvilinear (10.6%)
4. Low Stable (18.3%)
5. Low Declining (3.6%)
Most common trajectory for marital satisfaction over life course - ANSWERSHigh Stable
Most common problem faced by mid-life couples (according to Henry and Miller 2004
study) - ANSWERSFinancial matters.
Most desired area of change for midlife couples (according to Christensen and Miller,
2006 study) - ANSWERSWanting to spend more time together.
Effects of transitions (having adolescents, parent-adolescent conflict, launching last
child, caring for parents, having boomerang kids, death of a parent, retirement, poor
health) on marital satisfaction - ANSWERS· Having adolescents does NOT have a
negative impact on marital satisfaction.
· Having adolescent-parent conflict DOES have a negative impact on marital
satisfaction.
· Launching the last child has a modest positive impact on marital satisfaction.
· Sustained caring for a parent has a negative effect on marital satisfaction.
· Having kids return to live at home does NOT have a negative impact, unless they are
returning home for the 3rd or more time.
· Death of a parent has a temporary negative effect on marital satisfaction.
· Retirement does NOT have a negative (or positive) effect on marital satisfaction.
· Poor health does NOT have a negative impact on marital satisfaction. The one
exception is Alzheimer's Disease, this leads to a decrease in marital satisfaction.
Most common problems among older couples (according to Henry et al, 2005 study) -
ANSWERSLeisure activities.
Change in marital conflict in mid- and later-life - ANSWERSCurrent research suggests
that conflict lessens as couples get older.
Main ideas of Socioemotional Selectivity Theory (Laura Carstensen) - ANSWERSThis
theory suggests that as we age, emotions become more important to us. We come to
value emotions more. As we age, our motivation is to be in a positive emotional
environment. Positive intimate relationships become more important to us. As a result,
we seek out positive relationships and interactions with others that will elicit positive
emotions and avoid negative ones. Hence, older people will seek to reduce conflict
(negative interaction) in marriage. Value emotions -> desire to have positive emotions -
> seek out positive interactions that will lead to more positive emotions.
ANSWERS 100% SOLVED.
Main findings from Holt-Lunstad article on social connection/loneliness and health -
ANSWERSMarried people have less disability, morbidity (illness), and mortality (they
live longer). The healthiest people are the happiest married. Unmarried people have
higher blood pressure. Social connection is vital for health! Loneliness is more of an
issue than obesity.
Effects of marital status on health - ANSWERSPretty happily married were 60% more
likely to experience poor health. Not too happily married were 225% more likely. Never
married were 61% more likely to experience poor health. Divorced/separated 91% more
likely. Widowed 26% more likely.
Effects of marital distress and health - ANSWERSWith all the documented benefits of
being married, there is substantial evidence that spouses in conflict, unhappy marriages
are worse off than single people. Marital quality is an important moderator. Only those in
high quality marriages received marriage benefits. Negative interactions have a far
greater effect on poor health than positive interactions on good health.
Three pathways linking marital distress and health - ANSWERS1. Psychological
distress: marital conflict is a significant risk factor for depression and anxiety, as well as
other forms of psychological distress. Psychological distress is a major risk factor for
health problems. Marital conflict -> psychological distress -> health problems.
2. Risky health behaviors: people in distressed marital relationships are much more
likely to engage in risky health behaviors like poor eating habits, inadequate sleep,
smoking, alcohol abuse, and nonmedical use of prescription drugs. Marital distress ->
risky health behaviors -> health problems
3. Physiological impairment: marital distress is a significant risk factor for negative
physiological changes in cardiovascular, endocrine, and immune functioning like higher
blood pressure, increase in cortisol, increase in inflammation, and decrease in immune
functioning. Marital distress -> physiological impairment -> health problems.
Effect of religious participation on health, including mortality and suicide -
ANSWERSPeople who are more religious are more likely to be in very good health, less
likely to smoke, less likely to drink, have lower mortality, less depression, and less
suicide. Members of religions experienced less anomie (lack of norms). Women who
attended church at least once a week were five times less likely to commit suicide,
controlling for multiple risk factors.
Problems with cross-sectional studies of marital satisfaction over the life course -
ANSWERScohort effect, older couples may view marriage differently than younger
couples.
, Number of different types of trajectories of marital satisfaction over life course -
ANSWERS1. High Stable-2 (21.5%)
2. High Stable-1 (46.1%)
3. Curvilinear (10.6%)
4. Low Stable (18.3%)
5. Low Declining (3.6%)
Most common trajectory for marital satisfaction over life course - ANSWERSHigh Stable
Most common problem faced by mid-life couples (according to Henry and Miller 2004
study) - ANSWERSFinancial matters.
Most desired area of change for midlife couples (according to Christensen and Miller,
2006 study) - ANSWERSWanting to spend more time together.
Effects of transitions (having adolescents, parent-adolescent conflict, launching last
child, caring for parents, having boomerang kids, death of a parent, retirement, poor
health) on marital satisfaction - ANSWERS· Having adolescents does NOT have a
negative impact on marital satisfaction.
· Having adolescent-parent conflict DOES have a negative impact on marital
satisfaction.
· Launching the last child has a modest positive impact on marital satisfaction.
· Sustained caring for a parent has a negative effect on marital satisfaction.
· Having kids return to live at home does NOT have a negative impact, unless they are
returning home for the 3rd or more time.
· Death of a parent has a temporary negative effect on marital satisfaction.
· Retirement does NOT have a negative (or positive) effect on marital satisfaction.
· Poor health does NOT have a negative impact on marital satisfaction. The one
exception is Alzheimer's Disease, this leads to a decrease in marital satisfaction.
Most common problems among older couples (according to Henry et al, 2005 study) -
ANSWERSLeisure activities.
Change in marital conflict in mid- and later-life - ANSWERSCurrent research suggests
that conflict lessens as couples get older.
Main ideas of Socioemotional Selectivity Theory (Laura Carstensen) - ANSWERSThis
theory suggests that as we age, emotions become more important to us. We come to
value emotions more. As we age, our motivation is to be in a positive emotional
environment. Positive intimate relationships become more important to us. As a result,
we seek out positive relationships and interactions with others that will elicit positive
emotions and avoid negative ones. Hence, older people will seek to reduce conflict
(negative interaction) in marriage. Value emotions -> desire to have positive emotions -
> seek out positive interactions that will lead to more positive emotions.
