THE MENTAL HEALTH OF MOTHERS AND FATHERS BEFORE AND AFTER COHABITATION AND MARITAL DISSOLUTION

Using data from years one and three of the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study, changes in depressive and anxious symptoms are compared for mothers and fathers who: 1) dissolve a cohabitating union versus remain intact; 2) dissolve a marital union versus remain intact; and 3) dissolve a cohabiting as compared to a marital union. In order to take into account potential sources of third variable bias from selection factors that differentiate those who are in cohabitations from those who are in marriages, mothers and fathers were matched on several sociodemographic control variables that research has demonstrated to be related to union formation and mental health outcomes. Results indicated that fathers who dissolve cohabitating or marital unions have greater increases in depressive and anxious symptoms over time than those who remain in their unions. In contrast, mothers increased in depressive and anxious symptoms, regardless of the type or stability of the union. For both mothers and fathers, no differences were found in change in mental health by type of union dissolution. In this low income sample of parents, results suggest that the impact of cohabitation and marital dissolution on mental health are similar in magnitude.Depression, fragile families, marriage, cohabitation, income, mental health

IMPLICATIONS OF VIOLENT AND CONTROLLING UNIONS FOR MOTHERS’ MENTAL HEALTH AND LEAVING

We used two waves of the Fragile Families Study (N = 2639) to examine links between control and violence with maternal mental health and relationship dissolution. Mothers in controlling-only or controlling and violent unions had more symptoms of depression and anxiety and greater odds of dissolution than mothers not experiencing violence or control. Over time, all mothers increased in depressive symptoms, but the magnitude of the increase in depressive symptoms was greatest for mothers in violent and controlling stable unions followed by those in controlling-only stable unions. Mothers dissolving violent and/or controlling unions also experienced increases depressive symptoms over time. Results indicate negative consequences for both mothers who remain in and leave violent and controlling unions.

(In,Ga)As/GaP electrical injection quantum dot laser

The paper reports on the realization of multilayer (In,Ga)As/GaP quantum dot (QD) lasers grown by gas source molecular beam epitaxy. The QDs have been embedded in (Al,Ga)P/GaP waveguide structures. Laser operation at 710 nm is obtained for broad area laser devices with a threshold current density of 4.4 kA/cm2 at a heat-sink temperature of 80 K.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe