The Association between General Health Status and Marital Status among Mothers of Reproductive Age (20-44) Living with Children under 14: A Secondary Analysis of the 2009 California Health Interview Survey Open Access
Sahay, Kashika M. (2013)
Published
Abstract
Background: Motherhood is a transitional time when general health status may vary by social supports, operationalized in this study as marital status.
Hypothesis: Among mothers with young children living in California, those who are married or living with partners will have reduced odds of self-reported fair or poor health when compared to mothers who are not living with a partner.
Methods: We used the cross-sectional 2009 Adult California Health Interview Survey to obtain a sample of mothers ages 20-44 (N = 4228) who reported having children under age 14 living at home. We assessed our primary outcome using the five category general health status question at interview. We defined the primary exposure of interest of marital status at interview by a single question assessing if the individual is now married, living with a partner in a marriage-like relationship, or single. We examined the potential effect modifiers of the mother's country of birth, as well as her education, age and race. We identified potential confounders using a 10% difference rule between the crude (cOR) and adjusted odds ratios (aOR). We performed logistic regression in SUDAAN to account for jackknife replicate weights the complex survey design with married mothers as the reference group.
Results: The unadjusted odds ratio (cOR) for fair or poor health was significantly higher for single (cOR = 3.29, 95% CI: 1.99-5.45) and cohabiting (cOR 2.38, 95% CI: 1.54-3.69) mothers as compared to married mothers. Non-native born mothers comprised 46% of the sample (n=1935). Preliminary analyses found effect modification for country of origin. However, all women were included in the final model which adjusts for education and race. Compared to married mothers, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for fair or poor health for single mothers was (aOR= 2.50, 95% CI 1.39-4.51); and for cohabiting mothers (aOR=1.45, 95% CI: 0.93-2.27).
Conclusion: Married women with young children are healthier than either single or cohabiting women. Cohabiting women are healthier than women rearing children alone. Owing to the cross-sectional nature of the survey, the data capture a moment in time rather than a longitudinal follow-up; therefore, causation cannot be established.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Background
1
Introduction
1
Literature Critique
8
Summary
12
References
14
Chapter 2: Manuscript
21
Abstract
21
Introduction
23
Methods
25
Results
29
Discussion
33
Strengths and Limitations
34
Summary
37
Tables
38
Figures
45
References
47
Chapter 3: Future Directions and Public Health Implications
52
Summary
52
Possible Future Directions for Research
53
Public Health Implications
56
Final Recommendation
57
References
58
About this Master's Thesis
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Primary PDF
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The Association between General Health Status and Marital Status among Mothers of Reproductive Age (20-44) Living with Children under 14: A Secondary Analysis of the 2009 California Health Interview Survey () | 2018-08-28 14:35:57 -0400 |
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Supplemental Files
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Thesis Tables_suppl.xlsx () | 2018-08-28 14:36:09 -0400 |
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