Abstract
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Highlights
This paper reports on comparisons between married and unmarried Norwegian men and women with regard to the relationship between perceived physical health and perceived mental health
Four analyses of variance were conducted with perceived mental health as the dependent variable, and each of the four measures of perceived physical health treated as fixed variables and dichotomised into high and low groups
A main effect of the diagnoses variable was observed (F = 13.57, p < 0.000), with respondents in the high category of the diagnoses variable having significantly lower perceived mental health scores compared to respondents in the low category of the diagnoses variable
Summary
This paper reports on comparisons between married and unmarried Norwegian men and women with regard to the relationship between perceived physical health (number of diagnoses, upper and lower body pain, and physical symptoms) and perceived mental health (well being, anxiety and depressive symptoms). Data from Norway indicate fewer people getting married, the proportion of single households increasing and a growing tendency for the Norwegian population to live alone, at least for some parts of their adult lives [5]. The significance of these trends to the population's health may be substantial. Jackson [15], for example, observed a buffering effect of support from spouse and friends on the relationship between self-reported physical health problems and depressive symptoms. It was expected that married men and women, compared to unmarried people, would report lower levels of mental health at all levels of physical health. Further it was expected that the protective effect of marriage would be observed after controlling statistically for other factors presumed to be correlated with both marital status and health status, especially socioeconomic status
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