ACCIDENTS, ASSAULTS, AND MARITAL-STATUS

Marriage may reduce the risk of accidents and assaults by promoting so cial control of health behavior. This study examines the impact of mar ital status on non-fatal accidents and assaults in young British women . Data is drawn from a large cohort study of the people born in 1958. Rate ratios of overall and specific incidence of non-fatal accidents a nd assaults are determined by negative binomial regression, with adjus tment for socio-economic and behavioral confounders. The null hypothes is of no association between marital status and incidence of non-fatal accidents and assaults is rejected. It is suggested that, independent of parental status, more exposure to marriage and less exposure to ma rital dissolution may reduce accidents and assaults. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.