PURPOSE Epidemiologic data from various regions have shown familial correlations of cardiovascular risk factors and the metabolic syndrome (MES), but not spousal concordance that reflects shared environmental factors, which we describe in a Korean general population. METHODS We selected 3141 couples; both partners of all couples had completed a national health examination. MES was determined ...

Children, Spousal Love, and Happiness: An Economic Analysis In this paper we examine how children affect happiness and relationships within a family by analyzing two unique questions in the National Longitudinal Study of Youth’s 1997 cohort. We find that (a) presence of children is associated with a loss of spousal love; (b) loss of spousal love is associated with loss of overall happiness; but...

CONTEXT Intimate partner violence is prevalent and is associated with significant impairment, yet it remains unclear which interventions, if any, reduce rates of abuse and reabuse. OBJECTIVE To systematically review, from the perspective of primary health care, the available evidence on interventions aimed at preventing abuse or reabuse of women. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Heal...

OBJECTIVES We assessed weapon use in intimate partner violence and perspectives on hypothetical firearm policies. METHODS We conducted structured in-person interviews with 417 women in 67 battered women's shelters. RESULTS Words, hands/fists, and feet were the most common weapons used against and by battered women. About one third of the battered women had a firearm in the home. In two thir...

OBJECTIVE We employed Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) real-time recording in the natural setting to determine whether spousal interaction frequency predicts 3-year progression of carotid artery intima medial thickening (IMT). METHODS Participants were 250 healthy, older adults (M age = 61, 48% female) who, at baseline, underwent 6 days of ambulatory monitoring using electronic diaries t...

Family factors and the media have been established as determinants of body satisfaction, yet little research has looked at the contribution of spousal influence in body dissatisfaction. Marital quality and satisfaction can be a protective factor in the health of women, while high rates of criticism have been associated with poorer health outcomes. The present study investigated the relationship...