Geng, Jing2024-10-162024-10-162024-10-15vt_gsexam:41601https://hdl.handle.net/10919/121348Research on health in old age finds gender and racial differences in physical and mental health and points to several social factors that can influence health in later life, including marriage. However, it remains unclear whether the health impacts of marriage differ between men and women or across racial groups in later life. Using the Health and Retirement Study, this project aims to explore the impact of both marital status and marital history on health outcomes, and how gender and race impact these effects. To capture a comprehensive view of health, this study incorporates a wide range of measures, addressing both physical and mental health. Using the gender relations framework, Chapter 2 examines the impact of marital status and history on gender differences in physical health outcomes, including self-rated health, functional limitations, and chronic conditions, of older Americans; Chapter 3 explores the influence of marital status and history on gender differences in mental health outcomes, including life satisfaction, positive affect, depression, and alcohol consumption, of older Americans. Along with the intersectionality framework, Chapter 4 investigates the effect of gender and race intersections on the relationship between marital status, marital history, and self-rated health of older Americans. The results highlight the critical need to consider both gender and race when evaluating the impact of marriage on health outcomes in later life.ETDenIn CopyrightHealth DisparitiesGenderMarital StatusMarital HistoryDissertation