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Drinking Patterns Among Older Couples: Longitudinal Associations With Negative Marital Quality
Kira S Birditt1, James A Cranford2, Jasmine A Manalel1
1Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Summary
For older couples, drinking together is linked to better marital quality over time. This contrasts with wives whose husbands do not drink, where marital quality may decline.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sociology
- Psychology
Background:
- Previous research highlights alcohol's impact on younger couples' marital quality.
- Limited research exists on how alcohol consumption affects marital quality in older couples.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between dyadic drinking patterns and marital quality in older couples.
- To examine changes in negative marital quality over time based on couples' drinking status.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 4,864 married participants in the Health and Retirement Study.
- Assessment of alcohol consumption (drinking status, weekly amount) and negative marital quality (criticism, demands) across two waves (2006/2008 and 2010/2012).
Main Results:
- Couples where both partners drank alcohol reported decreased negative marital quality over time.
- This positive association was more pronounced for wives.
- Wives who drank experienced decreased marital quality when husbands also drank, but increased marital quality when husbands did not drink.
Conclusions:
- Focusing on the drinking status of both partners, rather than just the amount consumed, is crucial for understanding marital quality in older couples.
- Findings are relevant given rising alcohol consumption among baby boomers and the link between marital quality and health in later life.
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