The effect of marital status on stress in medical school
Abstract
Two competing explanations have been offered to explain why the unmarried experience greater stress--the protection/support hypothesis (emotional support from a spouse offsets daily tensions) and the selection hypothesis (the more emotionally mature individual marries). To assess these hypotheses, the authors compared the difference in stress levels between 61 married and unmarried students during the stressful years of medical school. Stress was measured each year by attrition rates, self-reports, and interviews with spouses. The stressors of medical school were more severe for the single students; moveover, stress levels of formerly single students declined after marriage. The authors believe these results affirm the protection/support hypothesis.
Access content
To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.- Personal login
- Institutional Login
- Sign in via OpenAthens
- Register for access
-
Please login/register if you wish to pair your device and check access availability.
Not a subscriber?
PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5 library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.
Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).
