Marital Change Research Articles

Cognitive Decline After Divorce and Widowhood: Is Marital Loss Always a Loss?

We used longitudinal data to determine whether the type of marital loss is associated with the rate of cognitive change before and after divorce or widowhood. Previous research found that relationship status was associated with older adults' cognitive performance: married persons performed better on memory assessments and had lower dementia risk than unmarried-cohabitating, never-married, divorced, and widowed persons. However, the end of a marriage may cause distress or reduce distress because a stressor disappears. Questions thus remain about the mechanisms by which marital change affects cognitive outcomes and, specifically, whether termination of marriage can improve cognitive performance for some. Using data from the 1998-2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 23,393), we conducted two analyses. First, we used trajectory analysis to create clusters of participants with similar cognitive trajectories and tested the association between participants' cluster membership and marital loss type. Second, we used multilevel modeling to analyze the relationship between participants' cognitive scores while married and following divorce or widowhood and linked these to marital features. Participants who divorced showed no difference in trajectory distribution; widowed participants were more likely to be in the lower-performing and more quickly declining groups. Participants had lower rates of decline following divorce (β = .136, p < .001), while widowed participants had accelerated decline following spousal death (β = -0.183, p < .001) and an immediate decline following spousal death (β = -0.113, p = .028). We found that the type of marital loss was important, and predicted improvements in cognition for some and decrements for others, with individuals who were divorced performing best while those who were widowed or separated but not divorced performing worse.

WELFARE REGIME TYPE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE FINANCIAL SECURITY OF FEMALE CAREGIVERS IN LATER LIFE

Abstract Guided by life course theory, this paper examines the effect of early caregiving experience and later life-changing events on the financial security of older women using cross-national data from two panels (2004 and 2014) of the Survey of Health Aging and Retirement in Europe Analyses found that caregiving in midlife and subsequent life-changing events (being divorced or widowhood, changing employment status, and/or declining health) significantly affected women’s economic status in later life, Importantly, we found that early caregiving experience intensifies the effects of negative life events, and in turn further deteriorates women’s economic security in later life. Tests of welfare regime differences found that women who experienced a marital change (becoming divorced or widowed) in the dual breadwinner model were less likely to experience economic deprivation compared to the other two models. This finding is likely attributable to more gender equality in these countries which makes women more financially independent. Unfortunately, a significant association between welfare regime and caregiving was not found in this study. This study adds to the knowledge about the political, economic and cultural forces that shape the financial security of women in later life. Our findings suggest that public expenditures on long-term care and the healthcare system should continue and/or be augmented to prevent women economic deprivation, especially those who assume caregiving role in their early life. Moreover, the policies and conditions of dual-breadwinner role countries are informative in helping women achieve gender equality.

Societal transitions, ethnolinguistic identities, and marital conservatism in Central Asia

AbstractObjectiveThe study deploys an ethnolinguistic conceptual framework to examine variations in different dimensions of marital conservatism in the Kyrgyz Republic, a post‐Soviet nation in Central Asia, focusing on enduring, yet evolving, Russian linguo‐cultural influence.BackgroundThe global transformation of family and marriage systems has produced diverse local normative patterns that are historically rooted but are also reflective of context‐specific contemporary socio‐cultural, political, and economic transitions. The study investigates these patterns in a multi‐ethnic setting where Soviet‐era legacies, culturally pivoted on the use of the Russian language, have combined with post‐Soviet exposure to both Western influences and rising neo‐traditionalism.MethodThe study uses data from two rounds of a nationally representative cross‐sectional household‐based survey, with each round including standardized interviews with over 2000 men and women aged 18–49. Multi‐level regression models are fitted to predict ethnolinguistic variations in attitudes toward premarital chastity, optimal marriage age, support for parental preeminence in marital decisions, support for ethnic endogamy, and opposition to divorce, while accounting for universal correlates of marital conservatism, such as education, religiosity, and urbanicity. For most outcomes, the analyses examine separately how these attitudes apply to women versus men.ResultsThe results demonstrate the persistent normative imprints of the Russian linguistic and cultural influence but also instructive variations in them across the specific outcomes. They also suggest an overall rise in some aspects of marital conservatism.ConclusionThe findings elucidate the unique multidimensional complexities of family and marital change in transitional Eurasia, yet also its similarities with other post‐colonial contexts.

Partnership status and positive DNA methylation age acceleration across the adult lifespan in the UK

Although a significant body of research has shown that married people are healthier and live longer, empirical research on sex differences in the link between marital status and health suggests results are mixed. Moreover, the sex disparities in marital status and health relationships vary across adulthood. The literature on partnership status and measures of ageing is largely focused on older age groups and is limited in its view of early adulthood. Data from waves 2 and 3 (2010–2012) of Understanding Society: UKHLS were used to examine the association of current partnership status with epigenetic age acceleration (AA) assessed with DNA methylation (DNAm) algorithms 'Phenoage' and ' DunedinPACE ' in 3492 participants (aged 16–97). Regression models were estimated separately for men and women, and further stratified by age groups.Divorced/separated and widowed people showed positive age acceleration compared to the married/cohabiting people (reference group). Some sex differences were apparent, especially, among the single and divorced/separated groups. Age differences were also apparent, for example in men, being single was negatively associated with DNAmAA in the youngest group, but positively in the oldest group compared to partnered counterparts.These findings illustrate the importance of partnerships on the ageing process, in particular marital change through divorce and widowhood for positive age acceleration in adults. For single groups, observations were heterogenous by age and sex.

Perceived support, social and marital challenges in the lives of breast cancer survivors after illness: a self-administered cross-sectional survey.

Breast cancer (BC) is a traumatic illness. BC is the leading female cancer in Palestine. Complex socio-political dynamics impact patients' lives, resulting in an increasing need for social support to develop resilience after illness. Data was collected through a cross-sectional survey targeting women living in the Gaza Strip who had been diagnosed with BC. The survey was self-administered and distributed to 350 women between 1 March and 30 May 2021. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression analysis (SPSS, version 28.0) were used to explore perceived support, post-illness social and marital changes and the association between these changes and socio-demographic, illness-related and support-related variables. About four-fifth of the women with BC felt supported after illness, either fully or partially, mainly by family members, non-governmental organisations, spouses, and peers. Nevertheless, nearly half of the women perceived negative social changes after illness, and about 40% of married or formerly married women perceived negative changes in their marital life. Survivors' lived experiences varied by age, marital status, motherhood, prescribed treatment (specifically mastectomy), and the absence of informal support in social life and lack of partner support amongst married or formerly married women. This study shows how BC undermines the social status of women and further exacerbates existing social vulnerabilities. Nevertheless, it is possible to manage and potentially overturn this circumstance by enveloping patients with social support. Guiding partners, families, and friends on providing emotional and instrumental support will help survivors to cope better during recovery.

Developmental Idealism and Beliefs about Marriage in the United States

This paper examines endorsement of developmental idealism (DI) about marriage in the United States, as well as differences in such endorsement by demographic characteristics. It is the first study to assess whether Americans relate changes in marriage to societal development—a key dimension of DI. The analysis draws on nationally representative survey data with 44 items designed to measure DI beliefs and attitudes about nine different marriage attributes. Overall, endorsement of DI about marriage, as well as unions more broadly conceived, is widespread in the United States. Large majorities of Americans believed “modern” marriage attributes are more common in developed countries, thought development causes marital change, believed marriage changed in the past, and expected marriage will change in the future in ways that are consistent with DI. Large majorities also believed long-standing “modern” marriage behaviors are good, but not newer “modern” behaviors of cohabitation, premarital sex, and same-sex marriage. Endorsement of marriage DI also differed consistently by race, education, and age: it was greater among non-Hispanic Whites, more educated individuals, and younger people. Differences by marital status and gender were small or nil.

从家庭角度探究全面二孩政策下女性生育意愿不高原因：经济成本、健康状况和婚姻变迁

从家庭角度探究全面二孩政策下女性生育意愿不高原因：经济成本、健康状况和婚姻变迁

The Promotion and Evaluation of the Marriage Education Program in Taiwan:A Case of the "Holding Hands" Family Program

&lt;p&gt;背景與目的:「牽手戀家」家庭共學方案是一個以台灣夫妻互動特色為設計主軸的婚姻教育方案。本研 究的目的有二:(1)評估「牽手戀家」家庭共學方案本土性、趣味性、私密性、及專業性特色之呈 現;(2)評估「牽手戀家」家庭共學方案關係增溫之成效。方法:本研究採用問卷調查法、焦點團體 及個別訪談三種方法收集相關資料，本方案共有17對夫妻全程參與並完整填寫問卷，有7對夫妻參與焦 點團體或進行深入訪談。結果:在呈現方案特色方面，77.8%的參與者學習到切合台灣夫妻的互動方 式，呈現本方案的本土性;88.9%的參與者學習到趣味性的課程，呈現本方案的趣味性;76.5%的參與者 滿意本方案提供夫妻獨處的時光，呈現本方案的私密性;77.8%的參與者學習到專業知識內容，呈現本 方案的專業性。在評估夫妻關係增溫的成效方面，本研究結果顯示，在七對參與訪談的夫妻中，三對夫 妻的婚姻品質上升，有三對夫妻其中一位婚姻品質上升，另一位婚姻品質下降，有一對夫妻婚姻品質沒 有改變，可看出方案似乎對大部分的參與者有產生活化伴侶關係的效果。結論與建議:究竟婚姻教育方 案如何讓夫妻關係增溫?在本研究質性資料中初步發現，其中的機制或許是透過課程設計，讓夫妻覺察 到之前被忽略之處，讓他們更了解對方;對關係發展產生新的觀點，重新思考配偶行為背後的意義;學 習轉念，進而調整自己的作法。最後，研究者提出對未來婚姻教育方案推廣及評估的建議。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Context and Object: The &amp;quot;Holding Hands&amp;quot; family program is a marriage education program that focuses on interactional characteristics of Taiwanese couples, emphasizes the enjoyability of shared activities, and pays attention to individual privacy and differences between husband and wife. The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) to evaluate the &amp;quot;Holding Hands&amp;quot; family program across four major characteristics: localization, enjoyability, privacy, and professionalism; (2) to assess the effects of the &amp;quot;Holding Hands&amp;quot; family program in enriching marital relationships. Method: Survey, focus groups, and individual interviews were employed to collect relevant data in this study. The survey included items for examining the degree of learning and satisfaction that couples felt towards the program. It also investigated changes in the quality of marriage before and after couples participated in the program. Focus groups and individual interviews were used to understand the feelings of the couples towards the characteristics of the program and to explore the processes of how marital relationships improve over time. A total of 17 couples participated in the program and completed the questionnaire. Seven couples participated in focus groups or in-depth interviews. Results: In evaluating this program, 78% of participants felt that the interaction method they learned was suitable for Taiwanese couples, showing the localization of the program; 89% of participants found the activities to be entertaining, showing the enjoyability of the program; 77% of participants were satisfied that the program provided alone time for couples, demonstrating the privacy of the program; and 78% of participants acquired professional knowledge about marriage, reflecting the professionalism of the program. In assessing the impact of this program, the results showed that among seven couples who completed pretest and posttest questionnaires, three couples’ marital quality increased over time, three couples showed different patterns between husbands and wives in marital quality changes (one’s marital quality increased and the other’s marital quality decreased), and one couple’s marital quality remained the same as before. It seemed that the program had the effect of revitalizing the partnership for most of the participants. How exactly did the &amp;quot;Holding Hands&amp;quot; family program enrich the relationship between husband and wife? The qualitative findings showed that this marital education program promoted marital quality by designing courses that (1) allowed the couples to realize what was previously overlooked and to understand each other better, (2) generated new perspectives on relationship development and rethought the meanings behind their spousal behaviors, and (3) allowed for couples to change their thoughts and then adjust their approaches. Conclusion and Suggestions: This program achieved breakthroughs and demonstrated strength across the four major characteristics. The program also provided activities for couples’ children to enable couples to participate. By emphasizing enjoyability and privacy, the program appealed to participants in various groups and genders. The concepts for this program were all derived from the results of localized research, which was tailored to the life experiences and ways of communications among Taiwanese couples. Future marriage education research may consider combining activities with the husband and wife, children, and even the whole family, which should increase couples’ participation and acceptance of marriage education. To promote future marriage education, government and non-governmental organizations can combine resources from the industry, government, and academia sources to examine the effect of marriage education currently implemented in Taiwan, understand the main mechanism by which marriage education improves marital relationship, and explore the applicability of marriage education programs to couples at different phases of family life.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

Marital Surname Change and Marital Duration Among Divorcées in a Canadian County.

Women’s marital surname change has been discussed as comprising one possible signal of intention to remain married, and may be perceived as such, and valued, by husbands. Here, the practice was investigated as a potential predictor of marital duration among couples who went on to divorce. An archival analysis was based on a search of all available, opposite-sex divorces filed over an 8-month period in a Canadian county. Among couples (n = 107) divorcing, marriages the women in which underwent marital surname change lasted 60% longer, controlling for wife’s age at the time of marriage. When the woman’s marital surname change/retention was used as a regression predictor of number of children of the marriage alongside marriage duration in years, only the latter was predictive. No husband took his wife’s surname. Giving the maternal surname (along with the paternal surname) to children occurred at a negligible frequency. Potential reasons for these findings including costly signaling and, ultimately, paternity uncertainty, as well as possible implications for public policy, are discussed.

The longitudinal association between marital and psychological functioning in socioeconomically disadvantaged relationships

Marital functioning is associated with individuals’ psychological functioning. However, it is unclear if the association between marital and individual functioning extends to socioeconomically disadvantaged newlyweds (those with low educational attainment/income), and if changes in psychological distress differ between husbands and wives. Using three waves of data from 530 couples in the Supporting Healthy Marriage study, we investigated if improvements and deterioration in marital satisfaction were differentially associated with patterns of individuals’ psychological distress. We also examined if spouses’ divergent marital change patterns were associated with distress trajectories. For wives, improvements in marital satisfaction were more strongly associated with decreases in psychological distress compared to declines in satisfaction. Additionally, wives’ psychological distress was more adversely impacted than was husbands’ when they reported worse marital functioning. We provide empirical and practical implications for helping reduce disparities in psychological functioning observed in low-income populations.

Predicting Child Maltreatment over the Early Life Course: A Prospective Study.

A large number of early life exposures predict child maltreatment. Using data from a 30-year birth cohort study we examine 12 early life course risk factors of four types of self-reported childhood maltreatment recalled at the 30-year follow-up. Of the 7223 children in the sample at birth, 2425 responded to the Child Trauma Questionnaire at the 30-year follow-up. On adjusted analysis being a teenage mother predicts childhood physical and sexual abuse, as well as child neglect. More numerous maternal marital partner changes in the 5years after the birth predict offspring experiences of emotional abuse, sexual abuse and childhood neglect. Policy responses should focus on the broad social context in which children are reared as the most effective approach to reducing the high level of childhood abuse and neglect.

Influences on contraceptive method choice among adolescent women across urban centers in Nigeria: a qualitative study

BackgroundDespite calls to increase contraceptive use among adolescents and youth, large gaps still exist, creating an unmet need for family planning. Past research has focused on barriers to seeking a method. There is less understanding of the types of methods young women want and who and what influences these decisions. This study examines what method characteristics young Nigerian women prioritize when choosing a method to inform future family planning programming.MethodsIn 2018, eight focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted in the Nigerian cities of Ilorin and Jos with 83 young women ages 15–24. Participants were identified by community contacts and separated into groups by religion and marital status. The discussion guide utilized a vignette structure to understand the participants’ perceptions on contraceptive behavior and attitudes and misconceptions surrounding different types of methods. The FGDs were undertaken and analyzed by collaborative teams from the University of Ibadan and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. A thematic analysis of the transcripts was performed using Atlas.ti, including two rounds of coding, and multiple reviews by the research team.ResultsThe method characteristics associated with young women’s contraceptive decisions include: side effects, reliability, length of coverage, privacy, cost, and accessibility. Side effects, reliability, and privacy were described as negatively linked to short-acting methods whereas easy accessibility and low cost were positive characteristics of these methods. Long-acting methods were generally viewed as positive. Participants’ focus on side effects commonly resulted from concerns about the impact on future fertility. The characteristics prioritized by individuals change throughout their adolescence and as their marital status changes. Providers, peers, parents, and partners were all found to have an influence over method choice in different ways. The role of these influencers also changes over the adolescent years.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that programs should prioritize expanding method choice to increase the number of available options to ensure all young women can access a method that fits their desired method characteristics. Programming should ensure that medically accurate information is widely distributed to harness providers, peers, parents and partners as a resource for information about specific methods.

Abstract PS7-89: The socioeconomic impact of breast cancer in Brazil: An analysis of AMAZONA III cohort study

Abstract INTRODUCTIONPatients diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) in Brazil are on average 54 years old and the majority (70%) have stage II-III. Age and clinical stage have a negative impact on patient personal life and labor productivity. The socioeconomic status is a fundamental part of the population’s health, which includes marital and employment status. Our aim was to analyze the socioeconomic impact of BC diagnosis which is poorly studied in low or middle-income countries. METHODSThis is a cross-sectional study including patients from AMAZONA III cohort study. Eligible patients were female aged &amp;gt; 18 years with diagnosis of any stage invasive BC from 2016 to 2018 in 24 participating hospitals in Brazil. The present analysis evaluated the marital and employment status at baseline and at 1-year follow-up after BC diagnosis. Patients with missing data were excluded and women older than 60 years, retirement age in Brazil, were not included in this analysis. A multivariate Poisson regression analysis with robust variance was adjusted to assess which patients’ characteristics associated with job loss and relationship status. The characteristics evaluated were age (⇐ 50 vs. &amp;gt; 50 years), educational level (Illiterate to completed first degree or completed second degree vs. higher), personal income (no income – 2 minimum wages vs. 2 to 5 minimum wages vs. more than 5 minimum wages), clinical-stage (I-III vs. IV), molecular subtype (luminal, HER2 positive vs. triple negative), surgery type (breast conserving surgery vs. any type of mastectomy), and systemic treatment (chemotherapy vs. hormonal therapy vs. none). The significance level was set at 5%. All analyses were conducted using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC). RESULTSFrom a total of 1257 patients with evaluable employment status, 655 patients (52.1%) had working activity at the time of BC diagnosis. After 1 year of follow-up, there was an absolute decrease of 5.3% in patients’ employment (52.1% to 46.8%; p= 0.0075). Loss of employment was higher in older patient &amp;gt; 50 years (8.7%), lower educational level (9.9%), those earning 2-5 minimum wages (11.2%), stage I-III (7%), triple negative (6.9%), mastectomy (9.9%) and treatment with hormone therapy (11%). Patients with higher educational level (RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.36-0.94, p=0.0265) were at lower risk of employment loss whereas patients with personal income of more than 2 minimum wages (RR 1.83, 95% CI 1.08-3.10, p=0.0236) and mastectomy (RR 2.16, 95% CI 1.47-3.17, p=0.0015) were at higher risk of being unemployed loss after 1 year of diagnosis. Other factors such as age, clinical stage, BC subtype and treatment were not independently associated with unemployment. A total of 1947 patients had marital status information at baseline. Of those, 1182 (60.7%) were married or in common-law marriage at BC diagnosis. After 1 year of follow-up, 52 (2.7%) of these women loss their relationship (60.7% vs. 58%; p=0.08). Loss of relationships was higher (5.2%) in younger patients (≤ 50 years), lower educational level (4.9%), no income or up to 2 minimum wages (5.4%), stage IV (7.7%), HER2 positive (5.5%), mastectomy (5.4%) and treatment with hormone therapy (5.5%). None of the variables evaluated such as age, educational level, personal income, clinical-stage, molecular subtype, surgery type and systemic treatment, were significantly associated with change of marital status for patients previously married or in common-law marriage. CONCLUSION The socioeconomic impact of BC diagnosis was minimal at 1-year follow-up in Brazil. Nonetheless personal income and surgery type were associated with higher chance of unemployment whereas no specific variables were related to marital status change. Government social policies specifically for work return remains critical for BC patients in short-term after BC diagnosis. Citation Format: Gustavo Werutsky, Daniela Dornelles Rosa, Carlos Barrios, Eduardo Cronemberger, Geraldo Queiroz, Jose Bines, Mahira Lopes Rosa, Rafaela Gomes, Ana P Heck, Laura Freitas, Arthur F da Silva, Matheus Rodrigues, Andre P Fay, Sergio Simon. The socioeconomic impact of breast cancer in Brazil: An analysis of AMAZONA III cohort study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Virtual Symposium; 2020 Dec 8-11; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS7-89.

Conjugalidade e infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana

Objetivo: Este artigo analisa as mudanças conjugais ocorridas após diagnóstico de infecção pelo Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana (HIV). Método: Trata-se de uma pesquisa de natureza básica com abordagem qualitativa. Foram entrevistadas nove pessoas soropositivas que participam de um Grupo de Apoio para portadores de HIV em um município de Santa Catarina, Brasil. Os dados foram analisados segundo os pressupostos da análise de conteúdo temático-categorial. Resultados: Identificou-se diversidade de manifestações e alterações nos relacionamentos conjugais após o diagnóstico. Alguns entrevistados informaram que deixarem de ter relação sexual ou apresentaram uma diminuição da atividade sexual. Relataram também o medo de contaminar outras pessoas. Conclusão: Apesar de sentimentos negativos como ciúme, mágoa, revolta, raiva, decepção, distanciamento permearam os relatos, o apoio do cônjuge quanto à realização do tratamento não deixou de existir. Palavras-chave: HIV. Sistema de Apoio Psicossocial. Relações de casais

What’s in a name? An experimental test of marital name change on perceptions of female political candidates

ABSTRACT Stereotypes about female candidates can affect voters’ perceptions, particularly when candidates violate gender role norms. We focus on a potentially important but overlooked characteristic: whether a woman keeps her last name after getting married. Using a survey experiment that asked respondents to assess candidates who did and did not have the same last name as their husband, we find that this decision has no overall effect on electability or the perception of a candidate’s characteristics. However, our results show a number of conditional effects. Most notably, males with less education rate candidates who kept their names as less honest, less ethical, less caring, and less intelligent than those who make the more traditional choice.

Long-term trends in living alone in later life in the United States, 1850-2015

ABSTRACT Recent research has looked at living alone among the elderly both within the context of the developed world and globally from a comparative perspective. To date this research has contributed relatively little to our understanding of patterns of change over time, an issue of major importance for the prediction of future trends. We propose now to look at change over time using a long-term historical perspective on living alone based on rich data from the United States, the country with by far the longest series of micro-census data in the world. Our analysis will be based on available public use manuscript samples of US censuses beginning in the mid-nineteenth century and stretching until the present. It will yield an invaluable long-term perspective, spanning the entire period of economic development and social change that characterized the history of the USA over the past century and one half. Descriptive indicators of the incidence of living alone are interpreted in terms of important societal, cultural, economic and legislative changes over the period under study. Multivariable analytical techniques are applied to these data in order to assess both the micro determinants of living alone and how independent variables such as age, sex, education and marital status change over time. The results of this study enable us to estimate the degree to which change in the United States can be used as a benchmark for patterns of historical change elsewhere, especially when controlling for levels of development.

Changing attitudes to risk at older ages: The role of health and other life events

Abstract This paper investigates risk attitudes at older ages in 14 European countries. Older individuals report lower willingness to take risks in all countries. Using panel data we are able to show that this relationship between financial risk attitudes and age is not due to cohort effects or selective mortality. We also show that key mechanisms driving this change with age are health changes and other life events – in our preferred specification around half of the overall evolution of risk attitudes with age can be explained by health shocks, retirement, and widowhood or marital change that occur increasingly frequently as individuals age. These life-events are a particularly important explanation of the evolution of risk attitudes for women.

“I Would Like Us to Share a Name so That We Can Be Recognized in Society.” Marital Surname Preferences in Same-Sex Relationships

ABSTRACT Despite the recent expansion of marriage rights within the U.S., relatively little is known about marriage-related practices among people in same-sex relationships. The current study extends prior research by investigating marital surname preferences in a large, sociodemographically diverse sample of U.S. adults in same-sex relationships. Participants (N = 179) described their surname preferences in an open-ended format. Thematic analysis revealed that many participants were open to making some type of marital surname change. When explaining their surname preferences, participants often cited their desire to unite the whole family under the same surname. Importantly, however, quantitative analyses illustrated that surname preferences significantly varied according to sociodemographic background characteristics such as age. Collectively, findings suggest a possible generational shift in surname preferences among individuals in same-sex relationships.

227-LB: Sociodemographic and Lifestyle Factors Associated with Long-Term Weight Change among Low-Income Blacks and Whites

Objective: American adults gain on average 1-2 lb/year. Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors have been shown to influence body weight. This influence has not yet been well characterized among blacks and low-income Americans, who are at high risk for obesity and related diseases. Methods: Included in the study were 12,261 blacks and 6,307 whites, 40-69 years old, who participate in the Southern Community Cohort Study, had no history of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer, and reported ≥2 body weight measures, one at baseline and another during follow-up. Mixed model was used to evaluate 5-year weight change in relation to baseline factors and changes in factors during follow-up. Analyses were conducted among all subjects and stratified by sex and race and baseline obesity status. Differences in 5-year weight change&amp;gt;1 lb with FDR-p&amp;lt;0.10 were considered significant. Results: During follow-up (median: 6 years; range: 0.5-15 years), participants gained 2.5 lb/year. After mutual adjustments, greater 5-year weight gain was seen among men (+1.61 lb) than women and associated with getting married (+1.67 lb), quitting smoking (+4.72 lb), and transition to menopause (+1.98 lb). The association for marital status change was most evident among white men (+5.80 lb) and the association for quitting smoking was most evident among subjects with baseline BMI&amp;gt;35 (+8.95 lb). Diet and other lifestyle factors (e.g., physical activity) overall contributed modestly to 5-year weight change in this population, although associations were observed for per serving increase in greens and beans among white women (-4.61 lb) and dairy among white men (+3.30 lb) and Healthy Eating Index among subjects with BMI&amp;gt;35 (-2.02 lb per 10 points increase). Conclusion: Changes in smoking, marriage, and menopause status contribute to body weight change among low-income Americans. Certain dietary factors are also related to weight change, but the association may vary by sex, race, and obesity status. Disclosure J. Yang: None. X. Shu: None. D. Yu: None.

Changing Risk Preferences at Older Ages

This paper investigates risk preference at older ages in 14 European countries. Older individuals report greater risk aversion. Using the longitudinal nature of the data we are able to show this relationship between risk preferences and age is not due to cohort effects or selective mortality. We also show, however, that on average roughly forty percent of this overall age effect is actually due to life events such as retirement, health shocks and widowhood or marital change that occur increasingly as individuals age. These life events are a particularly important explanation of the age 'effect' for women and for the age group 50-64.