The Effect of Marital Status on Hypertension in Women: Variations by Employment and Parental Roles

Haijiang Wang, Johns Hopkins University

This study employs an integrated social roles and structural framework for health determinants, analyzing the data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1991-1997). The study examines the effect of initial marital status on subsequent hypertension within Chinese women at age 20-59, interacting with parental and employment roles and controlling initial health status, sociodemographic factors and structural factors. A mulit-level logit regression model will reveal that the effect of marital status varies by parental and employment roles. People who are wage workers, have children above age 6, and are currently married have lower probability of having hypertension than those who are in other role combinations. The protective health effect of marriage is more distinctive among women without wage work and having children under age 6.