Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
marital status, mortality, life expectancy, social support, marital quality
College
David O. McKay School of Education
Department
Counseling Psychology and Special Education
Abstract
It is generally understood and accepted that marriage decreases one’s mortality risk, or in other words, increases their life expectancy. The purpose of this research project is to quantify or measure the effect that a person’s marital status has on their risk for mortality. The question that it seeks to answer is as follows “How much does being married affect the length of life compared to being not married, specifically, being single, widowed, or divorced?” This project started several years ago by looking at the effect that social support had on mortality. This is a subset of that research question, delving specifically into the marital relationship. Future research, which is currently underway in Dr. Smith’s and Dr. Holt-Lunstad’s lab, will address the important issue of marital quality and mortality: answering the question “Does the quality of the marital relationship affect the risk of mortality?”
Recommended Citation
Cook, Matthew and Smith, Dr. Timothy
(2013)
"Effects of Marital Status on Mortality: A Meta-Analysis of Current Research,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013:
Iss.
1, Article 43.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/43