英语四级真题-阅读passage1朗读-2019.6第一套

Inthe classic marriagevow（誓约）, couples promise tostay together in sickness and in health. But a new study finds that the risk ofdivorce among older couples rises when the wife-not the husband—becomesseriously ill.

“Marriedwomen diagnosed with a serious health condition may find themselves strugglingwith the impact of their disease while also experiencing the stress ofdivorce,” said researcher Amelia Karraker.

Karrakerand co-author Kenzie Latham analyzed 20 years of data on 2,717 marriages from astudy conducted by Indiana University since 1992. At the time of the firstinterview, at least one of the partners was over the age of 50.

Theresearchers examined how theonset（发生）of four seriousphysical illnesses affected marriages. They found that, overall, 31% ofmarriages ended in divorce over the period studied. The incidence of newchronic（慢性的）illnessonset increased over time as will, with more husbands than wives developingserious health problems.

“Wefound that women are doubly vulnerable to marital break-up in the face ofillness,” Karraker said. “They’re more likely to be widowed, and if they’re thenoes who become ill, they’re more likely to get divorced.”

Whilethe study didn’t assess why divorce in more likely when wives but not husbandsbecome seriously ill, Karraker offers a few possible reasons. “Gender norms andsocial expectations about caregiving many make it more difficult for men toprovide care to sick spouses,” Karraker said. “And because of the imbalance inmarriage markets, especially in older ages, divorced men have more choicesamong prospective partners than divorced women.”

Giventhe increasing concern about health care costs for the aging population,Karraker believes policymakers should be aware of the relationship betweendisease and risk of divorce.

“Offeringsupport services to spouses caring for their other halves may reduce maritalstress and prevent divorce at older ages,” she said. “But it’s also importantto recognize that the pressure to divorce may be health-related and that sickex-wives may need additional care and services to prevent worsening health andincreased health costs.”