Marriage, Mood, and Mental Health: How Does Marital
Status Correlate With Mood Notations in Medical Charts?
APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY LABORATORY
East Tennessee State University
http://www.etsu.edu/apl/
Johnson City, Tennessee
Druery, R. C., Jackson, H. M., Miesner M. T., & Dula C.S.
INTRODUCTION
RESULTS
• Research done by Scott et al. (2010) revealed that marital status was
associated with a reduced risk of individuals being diagnosed
with a mood disorder.
For H1:Data were subjected to a Chi Square. Current Marital Status
differed as a function of mood notations , X2 (2)=12.62, p <.002
Chi-Square Tests
• Nyer et al. (2010) have found that being married may enhance ones’
quality of life and protects against suicidal ideation in individuals
suffering from schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and
depressive symptoms.
• Females are more likely than males to be diagnosed with a mood
disorder. This may result from the determining role ignorance and
stigma attached to sex and one’s emotional fortitude (Niculescu &
Akiskal, 2001).
• Although most research conducted on marriage and mood disorders
typically only examines widowed females (St. John, 2009), this
study focused on the association between current marital status and
mood notations in the medical charts of both males and females.
df
2
p
.002
Likelihood Ratio
13.213
2
.001
Linear-by-Linear
Association
• Among other psychiatric diagnoses, major depressive disorder and
bipolar disorders were found to have a strong association with
possible marital distress (Whisman, 2007).
• According to Fournier et al. (2009), marital status was found to be a
predicting variable for patients’ response to cognitive therapy
relative to antidepressant medications ,
Pearson Chi-Square
Value
12.624a
12.006
1
.001
• H2: Supported. 20.83% of males had a mood notion versus
42.02% of female participants.
DISCUSSION
Similar to the results of Scott et al. (2010), more single participants had
a mood notation in their medical chart than married participants.
a. 2 cells (33.3%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 3.50.
30
• Despite causation not being able to to be determined, a mood notation
does seem to have a link with one’s marital status. This finding is
consistent with prior literature in that having a mood disorder may
lead to marital distress (Whisman, 2007).
Gender and Marital Status vs.
Mood Notation Recorded.
25
P
a 20
t
i 15
e
n 10
t
s
5
None
Depression
Bipolar
• H1: In our data set, a negative coloration will exist between marital
status and the presence of a medical chart mood notation .
• H2: In our data set, mood notations will occur at a higher percentage
for females than males.
None
Depression
Bipolar
METHOD
Married
Females
Single Males
Single
Females
Mood Notation Recorded
Married Married
Single
Males
Females
Males
12
24
4
1
7
3
0
1
1
Single
Females
16
16
5
Mood Notations Noted in Chart vs.
Marital Status
40
P
a
t
i
e
n
t
s
• As predicted, a higher percentage of females had a mood notation.
This may have to do with the common disbelief that women are
more “emotional” than their male counterparts (Niculescu and
Akiskal, 2001).
LIMITATIONS
Married
Males
HYPOTHESES
• Method: Data was collected using 8 undergraduates trained to review
medical charts in the integrated primary care practice. Information
relative to mood disorders was obtained by the primary treating
physician, including first notation of an mood disorder, method of
treatment, any medications which could be used (including off label
uses) to treat the particular mood disorder, and if a mental health
referral occurred.
• H1 : Supported. Patients who reported being married had fewer medical
chart mood notations than patients who reported being single.
•
0
• Participants: 100 medical charts were reviewed at a rural family
medicine clinic. Only 90 participants, 21 males (23.3%) and 69
females (76.6%), reported information pertaining to this study.
The participants chosen for this study reported their current marital
status, as either single or married. Ages ranged from 18 – 90 years
of age with a mean and median of 50 years of age.
Results:
35
30
25
Married
Not Married
20
15
•
Data were only collected from one primary care site.
•
There was no way to verify that the medical charts were complete in
regards to the patients medical history.
•
The scope of this project limited reviewers from accurately gathering
information on the causes for the participants mood notation. This
was due to only having access to patient medical charts.
IMPLICATIONS & FUTURE DIRECTIONS
• The results of the current analyses indicate that mood and relationship
status should be further investigated.
•
By looking at both males and females from varied age ranges, rather
than only widowed females , this study may promote future studies
investigating bias as it relates to gender in medical chart notation
•
It is recommended that future research studying similar topics use a
more diverse sample as to promote a more accurate reflection of
the population.
REFERENCES:
• Available upon request
10
5
0
None
Depression
Bipolar
Mood Notation Recorded
CONTACT: Ryne_Druery@yahoo.com or Chris S. Dula, dulac@etsu.edu