Australian Unity Wellbeing Index
Survey 28.0
Report 28.0
November
2012
Part A: The Report
Chapter 10
“The Wellbeing of Australians – The Impact of Marriage
on Wellbeing”
Melissa K. Weinberg and Robert A. Cummins
School of Psychology, Deakin University
Australian Centre on Quality of Life Deakin
University, 221 Burwood Highway
Melbourne, Victoria 3125, Australia
http://www.deakin.edu.au/research/acqol/auwbi/survey-reports/index.php
Table of Contents
Chapter 10: Marriage .............................................................................................................................. 3
10.1 Marital status .............................................................................................................................. 3
10.2 Length of marriage ...................................................................................................................... 3
10.2.1 Length of marriage x PWI..................................................................................................... 4
10.2.2 Length of marriage x Standard of living ............................................................................... 4
10.2.3 Length of marriage x Safety ................................................................................................. 4
10.2.4 Length of marriage x Gender ............................................................................................... 5
10.3 Married for the first time ............................................................................................................ 5
Dot point summary for Marriage ............................................................................................................ 7
Table of Figures
Figure 10.1: Marital status vs Personal Wellbeing Index ........................................................................ 3
Figure 10.2.1: Length of marriage vs PWI ............................................................................................... 4
Figure 10.2.2: Length of marriage vs Standard of Living ........................................................................ 4
Figure 10.2.3: Length of marriage vs Satisfaction with Safety................................................................ 5
Figure 10.2.4: Years of marriage x Gender (Personal Wellbeing Index) ................................................. 5
Figure 10.3.1: Is this your first marriage vs Personal Wellbeing Index ................................................... 6
Figure 10.3.2: Marital status vs Personal Wellbeing Index ..................................................................... 6
Chapter 10: Marriage
We asked the following questions:
1. I am going to ask about your marital status. Please indicate which of the following categories
applies to you at the present time
2. How long have you been married/living together/separated/divorced/widowed?
3. Is this your first marriage/de facto relationship/separation/divorce?
10.1 Marital status
We asked: ‘Please indicate which of the following categories applies to you at the present time?’
These results come from Table A10.1.
PWI
80
78
76
74
72
70
68
66
64
77.9
*
71.8
Never married
76.7
75.7
*
69.2
De facto
Married
Separated
*
71.1
73.3
Divorced
Widowed
Normative
range
73.8
Marital status
Figure 10.1: Marital status vs Personal Wellbeing Index
Married people exhibit the highest Wellbeing, followed by those in de facto relationships. The
lowest wellbeing is reported by Separated people, who are coming to terms with the dissolution of
their marriage. A divorce may signify some resolution to their marital problems, and a longer time
for adaptation, explaining the slightly higher score for this group. The wellbeing of divorced people is
no different from people who have never been married, whilst the wellbeing of widows falls just
below the normal range. According to these figures, it is better to have loved and lost than never to
have loved at all. However, this old adage is only true if your partner has been lost through death.
10.2 Length of marriage
We asked: ‘How long have you been married?’
10.2.1 Length of marriage x PWI
These results come from Table A10.2.
PWI
82
80
78
76
74
72
70
68
79.8
78.4
78.0
77.0
78.3
77.5
76.7
76.9
76.7
Normative
range
73.8
73.9
≤1
2
3-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
21-30
31-40
≥40
Years of marriage
Figure 10.2.1: Length of marriage vs PWI
The wellbeing of married people varies only slightly over the course of their marriage, and it is
almost always at the top of, or above the normal range. The single exception is ‘newlyweds’ who
have been married for a year or less. Their wellbeing is still within the normal range, but falls at the
lower end. Although not statistically significant due to this group only comprising 28 people, this
finding is largely due to the change in financial circumstances that accompanies marriage. Although
recently married people would have newly acquired access to their partner’s income, they also bear
the costs of a wedding and potentially a new house, which could drain monetary resources. Further
exploration into the wellbeing of the newlyweds group reveals that their lower overall wellbeing is
largely driven by lower scores on two domains: Standard of Living and Safety.
10.2.2 Length of marriage x Standard of living
These results come from Table A10.2.1.
Standard
of
living
84
82
80
78
76
74
72
70
68
83.4
80.4
81.4
2
3-5
79.0
*
77.4
6-10
11-15
80.9
*
78.3
16-20
21-30
81.4
80.0
Normative
range
75.5
*
72.1
≤1
31-40
≥40
Years of marriage
Figure 10.2.2: Length of marriage vs Standard of Living
For newlyweds, their Satisfaction with Standard of Living falls below the normal range for this
domain. This finding supports the idea that the lower overall wellbeing scores for the newlywed
group are related to their income, as the domain of Standard of living is closely associated with
finances.
10.2.3 Length of marriage x Safety
These results come from Table A10.2.5.
Safety
90
88
86
84
82
80
78
76
74
72
70
89.6
83.7
83.9
82.8
81.7
83.0
81.1
80.9
*
75.9
≤1
2
3-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
21-30
31-40
82.3
Normative
range
75.6
≥40
Years of marriage
Figure 10.2.3: Length of marriage vs Satisfaction with Safety
Similarly, Satisfaction with Safety for newlyweds lies just within the normal range for this domain.
This finding may be explained by the lifestyle changes that have likely occurred for this group, which
may result in some general uncertainty and disruption to previous living arrangements. The anxiety
associated with this lifestyle change may be reflected here as a threat to their Personal Safety.
10.2.4 Length of marriage x Gender
These results come from table A10.2.10.
Male
85
80
80.2
78.8
77.0
77.8
75.8
79.8
75
PWI
Female
75.3
76.1
75.5
75.6
<2
3-5
6-10
11-15
70
78.8
80.2
77.9
79.5
77.8
75.9
65
60
16-20
21-30
31-40
40+
Years of marriage
Figure 10.2.4: Years of marriage x Gender (Personal Wellbeing Index)
Married females consistently report higher wellbeing than married males. However, the average
wellbeing for males and females does not change as a function of years married.
10.3 Married for the first time
We asked: “Is this your first marriage?”
These results come from Table A10.3.
80
78.1
78
76.8
76.7
76
PWI
Normative
range
74
73.8
72
70
Yes
No
Figure 10.3.1: Is this your first marriage vs Personal Wellbeing Index
In general, whether or not a person is married for the first time does not affect their wellbeing. As
long as a person is married, their wellbeing is above the normal range for the Australian population.
This finding suggests that the best way to recover from the drop in wellbeing experienced through
separation or divorce is to re-marry. To further explore this idea, participants who reported that
they had been married previously were considered as a new group called “Remarried”, and were
compared to other marital status groups.
These results come from table A10.3.5.
PWI
81
79
77
75
73
71
69
67
65
78.1
76.7
76.8
75.7
73.3
71.8
71.1
73.8
69.2
Never married
De facto
Married
Separated
Divorced
Normative
range
Remarried
Widowed
Marital status
Figure 10.3.2: Marital status vs Personal Wellbeing Index
This figure confirms that being married, even if not for the first time, is associated with higher
wellbeing. Remarried people report significantly higher wellbeing than those who are never married,
separated or divorced.
Dot point summary for Marriage
1. Married people exhibit the highest Wellbeing,
followed by those in de facto relationships.
The lowest wellbeing is reported by Separated
people, who are coming to terms with the
dissolution of their marriage.
PWI
80
78
76
74
72
70
68
66
64
77.9
75.7
*
71.8
73.3
*
71.1
*
69.2
Marital status
2. The wellbeing of married people varies only
slightly over the course of their marriage,
and it is almost always at the top of, or
above the normal range. The single
exception is ‘newlyweds’ who have been
married for a year or less. Their wellbeing
is still within the normal range, but falls at
the lower end. Although not statistically
significant due to this group only comprising
28 people, this finding is largely due to the
change in financial circumstances that
accompanies marriage.
82
80
78
76
74
72
70
68
PWI
78.0
77.0
76.7
77.5
76.9
79.8
78.3
73.9
≤1
2
3-5
6-10 11-15 16-20 21-30 31-40
≥40
Years of marriage
3. For newlyweds, their Satisfaction with
84
82
Standard of Living falls below the normal
80
78
Standard
range for this domain. This finding supports
76
of
74
the idea that the lower overall wellbeing
living 72
70
scores for the newlywed group are related
68
to their income, as the domain of Standard
of living is closely associated with finances.
4. Being married, even if not for the first time,
is associated with higher wellbeing.
Remarried people report significantly higher PWI
wellbeing than those who are never married,
separated or divorced.
78.4
81
79
77
75
73
71
69
67
65
80.4
81.4
2
3-5
79.0
*
77.4
80.9
*
78.3
83.4
81.4
*
72.1
≤1
6-10 11-15 16-20 21-30 31-40
≥40
Years of marriage
78.1
76.8
75.7
73.3
71.8
71.1
69.2
Marital status