Abstract
Using longitudinal data from the Woodlawn Project (N= 680), this study examined how patterns of living arrangements among a community cohort of African American mothers were associated with later physical and emotional health. We identified eight patterns of stability and transition in living arrangements during the childrearing years. Health outcomes include SF-36 Physical Functioning, SF-36 Bodily Pain, depressed mood, and anxious mood. Specific patterns of living arrangements were related to later health, controlling for age, earlier health, education, and poverty. Poverty explained many, but not all, of the relationships between living arrangements and health. Findings underscored the benefits of social support and social integration and highlighted the negative effects of marital dissolution on health.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 848-861 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Journal of Marriage and Family |
Volume | 71 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 2009 |
Keywords
- African Americans
- Family structure
- Health and illness
- Longitudinal
- Poverty
- Social support
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Anthropology
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
- Social Sciences (miscellaneous)