Relationship Transitions and Well-Being in Middle-Aged and Older Men and Women

Objectives. Previous research indicates that men benefit more in their well-being from cohabitation and marriage than women. Accordingly, we examined whether men's well-being improves more than women’s well-being when moving in with a partner or marrying, and declines more strongly following separation. Specifically, we hypothesized that the predicted gender differences are in part associated with differences in emotional support from friends and family and may differ by age given that social relationships evolve over the lifespan.Methods. Using within-person longitudinal data from 2,840 middle-aged and older adults from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we compared 2-year changes in well-being (depressive symptoms and life satisfaction) between individuals who experienced relationship transitions (separation, moving in with a partner— with or without marriage —and marriage among cohabitators) and propensity-score-matched controls with stable relationship status (continuously partnered, single, or cohabitating). Results. Surprisingly, compared to continuous relationships, separation was associated with smaller declines in life satisfaction. Moving in with a partner—whether with or without marriage —was associated with increases in life satisfaction, whereas marriage among cohabitators was not. Men reported less emotional support from friends and family than women. Following separation, only men showed increased depressive symptoms, but we found no gender differences on any other transition. Transition effects also did not vary by age or emotional support.Discussion. We discuss the implications of our findings for the role of gender and emotional support in relationship transitions.