Pat M. Keith

The Social Context and Resources of the Unmarried in Old Age

A model of singleness in later life was developed to show how the social context may influence the personal and social resources of older, unmarried persons. The unmarried (especially the divorced) will be an increasing proportion of the aged population in the future, and they will require more services than will the married. Role transitions of the unmarried over the life course, finances, health, and social relationships of older singles are discussed with implications for practice and future research.

Stress in Marital Interaction and Change in Depression A Longitudinal Analysis

The research undertakes a longitudinal analysis of a model of the effects of stress in marital interaction on change in depressive symptoms as mediated by unfavorable reflected appraisals, low competency, self-efficacy, and self-esteem. The participants were 98 randomly selected married couples interviewed at two separate points in time. The data supported the proposed model. Stressors in marital interaction are associated with unfavorable reflected appraisals that have a direct effect on self-efficacy and an indirect effect on self-esteem. These two self-assessments have a direct effect on depressive symptoms after controlling for lagged level of depressive symptoms. A key variable is self-efficacy, which mediates the effect of reflected appraisals on self-esteem and has a direct effect on change in depressive symptoms.

A Comparison of the Resources of Parents and Childless Men and Women in Very Old Age.

Reciprocal exchanges between parents and children are evident throughout the life cyc/e, but little is known about how the childless manage in old age. This research compared the personal and social resources and correlates of psychological well-being of parents and the childless based upon interviews with 103 childless persons and 438 parents, 72 years or older. Parents and nonparents reported similar resources. Children did not assure these older parents less loneliness, more positive appraisals of life, or greater acceptance of death. Accommodations the childless may have made to an atypical status did not have an adverse effect on well-being. It was concluded that the presence or absence of children did not seem to appreciably alter the lives of the very aged.

Resources, Family Ties, and Well-Being of Never-Married Men and Women

Abstract The lifelong singleness remains a somewhat deviant choice. In lieu of an intimate marital relationship and its potential for caring and support, what are the characteristics and consequences of family ties established by middle aged and older never-married people? Using data from a national survey, three resources-mastery, commitment to singleness, and exchanges with family-were investigated in relation to self acceptance, satisfaction with family life, and depressive symptoms of 270 never-married men and women. Gender differences are noted. Mastery was consistently important to well-being. For many, exchange of support from parents and siblings were benign. Those in the poorest health did not receive disproportionately greater assistance from family. Decisions of the never married to seek formal assistance and care beyond the family remain largely unexplored.

Predicting fat in diets of marital partners using the health belief model

The objective of this investigation is to use the health belief model (HBM) to explain the percentage of calories from fat in the diet (PCF) for marital partners. The model includes four sets of determinate variables: perceived threat of a high-fat diet, barriers to a healthier diet, food choices made for health reasons, and self-efficacy, as well as sociodemographic background factors. One hundred fifty-five married couples were selected by a random area sample from the state of Iowa. Husbands and wives were interviewed separately in the home. The results partially support the HBM as applied to a nutrition domain and revealed interesting gender differences. For wives the cost of healthy diet changes had an effect on PCF. For husbands, perceived threat and self-efficacy had an effect on PCF. The differences are discussed on the basis of gender roles in the home and gender socialization.

Patterns of Assistance among Parents and the Childless in Very Old Age

This research examined patterns of assistance among very old parents and childless persons and considered the relationship between receiving help and a measure of well-being. Analysis of interviews with 551 older men and women indicated that parental status was less important than marital status in determining whether individuals received help from others in tasks of daily living. It was concluded that the childless relative to parents were not greatly disadvantaged in obtaining assistance or in their evaluations of life.

INFORMAL TIES OF THE UNMARRIED IN MIDDLE AND LATER LIFE: WHO HAS THEM AND WHO DOES NOT?

Gender, marital status, age, and race were considered in relation to the amount and assessment of social ties among 1,124 unmarried men and women aged 40 and over. When there were significant effects of marital status, widowed people tended to be advantaged in amount and supportiveness of their informal ties, although the influence of marital status was affected by age and race. Contrary to some literature, gender differences in social relationships favoring women were not consistently observed. The oldest never married may have the greatest potential needs for affective and instrumental support.Gender, marital status, age, and race were considered in relation to the amount and assessment of social ties among 1,124 unmarried men and women aged 40 and over. When there were significant effects of marital status, widowed people tended to be advantaged in amount and supportiveness of their informal ties, although the influence of marital status was affected by age and race. Contrary to some literature, gender differences in social relationships favoring women were not consistently observed. The oldest never married may have the greatest potential needs for affective and instrumental support.

Role Behavior, Relative Deprivation, and Depression among Women in One- and Two-Job Families.

This research examined how assessments of role behavior in the family and relative deprivation in work-family situations were linked with depression among women in oneand two-job families. Knowledge of whether similar conditions evoke distress among homemakers and employed women should be helpful to practitioners. Data were obtained from interviews with 130 homemakers and 135 employed married women. Negative evaluations of role behavior in the family were more depressing to homemakers than to employed women while the importance of relative deprivation also differed for the two groups. Evaluations of role behavior and relative deprivation together were more salient in fostering depression than were social status characteristics. This has implications for practice since perceptions and subjective assessments should be more amenable to intervention than some of the more enduring status characteristics.

Relationships and well-being over the life stages

Relationships and Well-Being Over the Life Stages Methodology Work and Well-Being in One-and Two-Job Families Equity in the Marriage Relationship Gender Roles in the Family: Is the Older Family Different? Typologies of Marriages: Differences Across the Life Stages The Self-Concept in an Intimate Relationship Gender-Role Attitudes, Characteristics of Employment, and Well-Being of Single and Married Employed Mothers Food Behavior and Diet Over the Life Stages A Concluding Glimpse of Families Over the Life Stages References Index

Relative Deprivation, Equity/Inequity, and Psychological Well-Being: Men and Women in One- and Two-Job Families

The research reported here compared the extent to which relative deprivation, based on general social comparisons and perceptions of equity/inequity derived from specific comparisons in an intimate relationship, influenced the psychological well-being of men and women in one- and two-job families. Data were analyzed from interviews with 130 couples in one-job families and 135 families in two-job families. Beyond the discomfort and unfair treatment accompanying them, both relative deprivation and inequity were associated with depression when they were considered in the same model.