How women and men respond to divorce. How women and men respond to divorce.

Differences in mental health revised.Differences in mental health revised.

Sara Symoens, Sarah Van de Velde, Elien Colman, Piet Bracke

Ghent University, Belgium

Presentation for the 7th conference of the European Network for the sociological and demographic study of Divorce.

Antwerp, 25-26 June 2009

Purpose of our studyPurpose of our study

Focus on multiple outcomes of mental health◦Depression (-)◦Autonomy (+)◦Competence (+)◦Self-esteem (+)

Gender differences

Socio-economic and social-relational mediating factors

HypothesesHypotheses

Mental health divorced < married, and women < men

Socio-economic and social-relational conditions mental health (stress- & coping theories)◦Mental health of divorced is worse according to

worse conditionsMental health of divorced men <?> women

◦women suffer more! men suffer more!(differential exposure, differential vulnerability and differential expression)

◦both suffer, but other mediating factors are into play!?

Data and methodsData and methods

Data◦European Social Survey, 3th round (2006/2007)◦19 countries◦Selection respondents: (1) married, cohabiting,

divorced or separated, (2) aged between 25 and 60.

◦15.327 respondents (6.912 men, 8.415 women)Methods

◦2-level multilevel linear regression model using SPSS.15

◦4 models per dimension of mental health◦design and population weights

Descriptives sampleDescriptives sample

 Not Divorced Divorced

 Men Women

 (N = 12.768) (N = 2.559) (N=6.912) (N = 8.415)Variable Mean (sd.)/% Mean (sd.)/% Sign.  Mean (sd.)/% Mean (sd.)/% Sign .Social-relational factors        Local integration (scale 1-5) 3,56 (0,92) 3,28 (1,00) *** 3,50 (0,92) 3,52 (0,95)Social activities with friends, family, colleagues (scale 1-7) 4,82 (1,54) 4,92 (1,60) **  4,85 (1,52) 4,82 (1,57)Having an intimate friend 93,96 88,49 *** 91,39 93,05 **Living together with a partner 98,86 20,59 *** 88 84 ***Socio-economic factors            

Having a job 75,14 74,96   84,98 66,58 ***

Hours worked weekly in main job, extra hours inclusive 40,65 (12,99) 40,32 (12,27)   44,37 (12,04) 37,49 (12,70) ***Work-life balance (scale 0-10) 5,96 (2,00) 5,87 (2,14) 5,89 (2,13) 5,99 (1,92) **Net household income 6,64 (2,46) 5,84 (2,43) *** 6,71 (2,47) 6,33 (2,46) ***Educational level (scale 0-6) 3,31 (1,39) 3,35 (1,35)   3,33 (1,35) 3,31 (1,41)

Depression Self-esteem Autonomy Competence

Divorced (married = ref.cat.) + - -Men (women = ref.cat.) - + + +

Results (1)Results (1)

Mental health of divorced < married, & women < men

Mental health of the married/ cohabiting and the divorced/ separated

Results (2)Results (2)

Marital status Mental healthSocial- relational factors

Socio- economic factors

Mental health differences between the divorced/separated and married/cohabiting,prior to- and after control for diverse mediating factors

Results (3)Results (3)

Divorce has a worse impact on the mental health of men

◦ … even when controlling for different socio-economic and social-relational factors

Mental health differences by marital state, men versus women

Results (4)Results (4)

Depression Self-esteem Autonomy Competence

Social-relational factors                

Local integration  -  +  + m>w +Social activities with friends, family, colleagues  - w>m  +  +  + w>m

Having an intimate friend (no friend = ref.cat)   - m>w  + +  m  +

Living with a partner (no partner = ref.cat)  -     +/ - m/w

Socio-economic factors                

Having a job (no job = ref.cat.)  - m  + m>w  + m>w+   mHours worked weekly in main job, extra hours inclusive  -  + w>m  +  +

Work-life balance   - m>w  + w>m  +  +

Net household income, all sources  - w>m  +  + w>m +

Highest educational level  - w>m  + w>m  +  +

Conclusion Conclusion

Both socio-economic and social-relational factors

Gender- differences between both categories?◦Men: social-relational factors◦Women: socio-economic factors

But more pronounced within both categories!◦e.g. living together with a partner!

Relation between divorce and mental health = multifaceted◦diverse mediators◦diverse indicators of mental health

DiscussionDiscussion

Limitations◦Positive dimensions by single- or two items◦Significant missing value substitution

Positive◦ESS3 = international, high quality randomized

sample of individuals of over 19 countries◦Multidimensionality of mental health!