Mortality and age differences in marriage

In: Journal of biosocial science: JBS, Band 11, Heft 2, S. 117-131

Abstract

SummaryThat married people have lower death rates than either the unmarried or the widowed has been recognized since the mid-19th century. Marital condition involves diverse and complex selection processes and is associated with differences in life style, factors which may contribute to differences in mortality. Mortality statistics of married people are presented here by age of surviving partner in an attempt to assess the influence of age difference between spouses.