Marital Status and Depressive Symptoms

Abstract

Marital status differences in depressive symptoms are examined in a random sample of 559 Anglos, 403 Blacks, and 822 Mexican American adults. Findings were generally consistent with a "crisis" model, with highest levels of depression observed among the separated, with lower distress levels among the divorced, although, marital differences remained significant after controls only among Anglo males. Differences were negligible among Blacks and Mexican Americans and lower levels of distress were found among never married than married Black females. Further analyses indicated that observed racial/ethnic differences can be partially explained by differences between groups in length of time since separation/divorce and likelihood of previous marriage, though significantly higher levels of depression and marital strain among married Black females relative to Anglo and Mexican American females-even among those in their first marriage-suggests differences between groups in the relative rewards or costs of marriage. These preliminary analyses underscore the need to examine alternative explanations of racial/ethnic and marital status differences in distress in a larger, prospective data base.

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