Spousal concordance in health behavior change.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study examines the degree to which a married individual's health habits and use of preventive medical care are influenced by his or her spouse's behaviors.

Study design

Using longitudinal data on individuals and their spouses, we examine changes over time in the health habits of each person as a function of changes in his or her spouse's health habits. Specifically, we analyze changes in smoking, drinking, exercising, cholesterol screening, and obtaining a flu shot.

Data source

This study uses data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative sample of individuals born between 1931 and 1941 and their spouses. Beginning in 1992, 12,652 persons (age-eligible individuals as well as their spouses) from 7,702 households were survey

SUBMITTER: Falba TA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2323137 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature