Marriage’s Impact on Aging: Gender Differences Unveiled in Study

A recent study on the impact of marital status on aging among older Canadians sheds light on surprising differences between genders.

While previous research has often praised marriage for its health benefits, the latest findings reveal that its effects on aging vary significantly for men and women.

The research indicates that married men tend to age more healthily than those who have never married.

However, the picture for women is more complex.

Never-married women appear to age better compared to those who have experienced divorce or widowhood, while married women show no significant differences in aging outcomes when compared to their never-married counterparts.

Context and Importance of the Study

This investigation was published in the International Social Work journal and comes at a critical time as Canada faces a demographic shift with nearly 20% of its population aged 65 and older.

Understanding what influences health and well-being in later years is more important than ever.

Although past studies have highlighted the benefits of marriage—like improved physical and mental health—the dynamic nature of marital transitions and their varying impacts based on gender have often been overlooked.

Methodology and Findings

The study’s authors aimed to bridge these gaps in research.

They critiqued earlier analyses that narrowly defined “successful aging,” focusing primarily on physical health while excluding people with chronic illnesses or disabilities.

Their approach sought a more holistic view of aging, taking into account physical, psychological, social, and emotional well-being.

Mabel Ho, the study’s lead author and research affiliate at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Life Course and Aging, has dedicated over two decades to gerontological social work.

She highlights the importance of understanding the factors that contribute to successful aging.

The research followed over 7,000 older Canadians, revealing diverse experiences in aging.

Utilizing data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), the researchers examined the well-being of people aged 60 and above during the 2015-2018 data collection period.

They classified participants based on their marital status and any changes within a three-year window, including categories like never married, consistently married, continuously divorced or separated, continuously widowed, as well as those newly married or newly unmarried.

Successful aging was evaluated through a comprehensive lens that included the absence of chronic pain or disabilities, mental health stability, strong social support, and a positive self-image regarding aging.

People meeting all these criteria were considered to be aging successfully.

The data revealed that married men and those who transitioned into marriage during the study had a significantly higher likelihood of successfully aging compared to their never-married counterparts.

This strong connection remained intact even after adjusting for other variables, emphasizing the robust link between marriage and aging well among men.

In contrast, men who had experienced marital dissolution—whether through divorce, separation, or widowhood—showed lower chances of successful aging, although their status was not markedly worse than that of never-married men.

For women, however, the findings painted a different picture.

Marital status was not a strong predictor of successful aging for them.

Married women exhibited similar outcomes to their never-married peers, whereas those who had become widowed or divorced were less likely to age successfully compared to never-married women.

This suggests that the stability of marital relationships may play a more significant role in influencing women’s aging than the mere fact of being married.

Implications and Future Research

Esme Fuller-Thomson, the senior author from the University of Toronto, emphasizes that marital dynamics yield different effects on aging for men and women.

Overall, around 70.5% of participants were categorized as aging successfully by the end of the study.

Maintaining regular physical activity, nurturing social connections, and avoiding smoking were strongly linked to successful aging for both sexes, yet the significant gender-specific differences highlight the need to consider these elements when addressing the challenges of aging.

Fuller-Thomson elaborates that positive health behaviors—like maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in physical activity, ensuring good sleep, and quitting smoking—correlated with sustained optimal health throughout the study.

Ho underscored the expanded criteria for successful aging in their research.

To be classified as aging successfully, older people needed to report no daily activity limitations, chronic pain, mental health issues, memory problems, lack of social support, and positive self-assessments of their well-being.

The study’s authors were encouraged to see that many people categorized as successfully aging at the beginning maintained their health throughout the research period.

Despite its valuable insights, the study is not without limitations.

Its reliance on self-reported data could introduce biases, and the predominance of well-educated participants raises questions about how broadly applicable the findings are.

Future research could delve deeper into long-term aging trends and how factors like caregiving responsibilities, economic stability, and cultural norms interact with marital status.

Moreover, understanding the underlying reasons for gender differences—such as variations in support systems or coping strategies—could provide invaluable insights.

Ho stressed the ongoing need to investigate what drives successful aging and enhance support for older adults.

With ongoing data collection from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) and other resources, researchers will have the opportunity to explore various trajectories and outcomes across different populations.

Study Details:

• Title: The contribution of vulnerability to emotional contagion to the expression of psychological distress in older adults
• Authors: Marie-Josée Richer, Sébastien Grenier, Pierrich Plusquellec
• Journal: PLOS Mental Health
• Publication Date: October 29, 2024
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmen.0000098