Marital dissolution and health: Do males or females have greater risk?

Abstract

Although research shows that marriage protects health, some argue that it protects men more than women. The paper explores this argument by examining the special case of the separated and divorced. If men benefit from marriage, then they should have greater health risk when marriage ends. Examining data on morbidity, mortality and mental health, we use ratio analysis to compare males and females. The findings do not provide consistent support for the prediction that marital dissolution has a greater effect on men than on women. Rather, it is type of health problem, severity and stage of greatest risk that varies by gender. Men have more of the severe health problems including mortality and hospitalization of all types. Women have more of the less severe health and mental health problems. Men and women differ in whether separation or divorce is associated with greater risk. We speculate about gender-linked experiences to explain these differences.