The aim of this research was to investigate how marital status is associated with reported depression. In meeting this aim, a 2018 dataset was utilized, obtained from the GSS website. Of the participants ( N = 1416), on demographic distribution across marital status, most participants were married (44.5%), followed by Never married (31.2%), then Divorced (17.2%), and least group the Separated (3.2%). Fig. 1 shows the cross-tabulation results for marital status and depression in the sample. The results show differences in depression levels based on one’s marital status. When asked about their depression, 1143 reported No (80.7%), and 273 reported Yes (19.3%). Comparatively, results show a difference in depression level exist, based on individual’s marital status, with the highest proportion in the Married (548 Yes vs. 81 No), Never married (339 Yes vs. 103 No), then Divorced (181 Yes, vs. 63 No), Widowed (36 Yes vs. 20 No), and finally Separated (39 Yes vs. 6 No).
In concluding whether this variation was statistically significant, a chi-square test was undertaken, shown in Fig. 3, with a significance summary based on comparing with p<. 05 values. The overall depression levels, most reported No on depression (80.7%), compared to those who said Yes on (19.3%). The chi-square test results ( Fig.3 ) showed a statistically significant association between marital status and depression incidences, X 2 (4, 1416) = 38.6, p =.000. Thus, one’s marital status contributed significantly to being depressed for the sampled 1416 participants.
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The statistical investigation showed useful findings depicting how a person’s marital status impacts their reported depression. Out of all participants, there is evidence of varying depression proportions, i.e., No and Yes values. Through hypothesis testing, with reliance on the chi-square tool, there is statistical evidence that a person’s specific marital status significantly determines their depression status. As shown from the descriptive statistics, most participants who reported having depression (Yes’s) were the Never married, followed by the Married.
Appendix: Summary Tables
Fig 1 . Crosstabulation
|
Marital status * Told have depression Crosstabulation |
||||
| Count | ||||
Told have depression |
Total |
|||
|
No |
Yes |
|||
| Marital status | Divorced |
181 |
63 |
244 |
| Married |
548 |
81 |
629 |
|
| Never married |
339 |
103 |
442 |
|
| Separated |
39 |
6 |
45 |
|
| Widowed |
36 |
20 |
56 |
|
| Total |
1143 |
273 |
1416 |
|
Fig 2.
Fig.3
The chi-square statistics is used to test whether the variables are associated.
|
Chi-Square Tests |
|||
|
Value |
df |
Asymptotic Significance (2-sided) |
|
|
Pearson Chi-Square |
38.611 a |
4 |
.000 |
|
Likelihood Ratio |
38.257 |
4 |
.000 |
|
Linear-by-Linear Association |
3.045 |
1 |
.081 |
N of Valid Cases |
1416 |
||
|
a. 0 cells (0.0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 8.68. |
|||
| Marital Status | Depression | ||
| Mean | 1.321074965 | Mean | 0.192362 |
| Standard Error | 0.024652164 | Standard Error | 0.010486 |
| Median | 1 | Median | 0 |
| Mode | 1 | Mode | 0 |
| Standard Deviation | 0.927000034 | Standard Deviation | 0.394295 |
| Sample Variance | 0.859329063 | Sample Variance | 0.155469 |
| Kurtosis | 0.873315338 | Kurtosis | 0.442512 |
| Skewness | 0.736315247 | Skewness | 1.562654 |
| Range | 4 | Range | 1 |
| Minimum | 0 | Minimum | 0 |
| Maximum | 4 | Maximum | 1 |
| Sum | 1868 | Sum | 272 |
| Count | 1414 | Count | 1414 |
| Confidence Level(95.0%) | 0.048358776 | Confidence Level(95.0%) | 0.020569 |
