For Better or Worse? Couples' Time Together in Encore Adulthood.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study examined the amount of time married couples share together in a new "encore adult" life course stage around the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Also investigated was the relationship between shared time and experienced well-being for this age group.

Method

Time diary and survey data were used from nationally representative 2003-2014 American Time Use Survey (ATUS) data for 26,303 adults aged 50-79 years. Analyses examined amount of total and exclusive shared couple time and experiences of happiness and stress when together using multivariate models.

Results

Shared time was positively associated with couples living on their own, conjoint employment/nonemployment, and age. Encore women and men reported feeling happier and less stressed when with their spouses. M

SUBMITTER: Genadek KR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6327662 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature