The Psychology Department at BYU-Idaho is looking at the overall health and well-being of married students at the university and is conducting a research study on the subject. This comes after another recent study found that married students at BYU-Idaho reported higher subjective health—as well as subjective social health—than their unmarried peers.
Subjective health is how you see your own health.
Robert Wright, the health psychology director of the Psychology Department, says the study is looking at the subjective mental health, psychological health as well as some physical health elements.
“We ask also about the relationship, children, other things that might be in the family life,” Wright said.
The questionnaire will ask a number of questions about a person’s subjective well-being including questions about their mood, social relationships, marital relationship, family relationships, physical health and emotional well-being, among others.
Wright says in addition to the subjective aspects of well-being, the study invites couples to complete an optional 24-hour blood pressure assessment.
“As they’re wearing the ambulatory blood pressure monitor, they will be completing daily diary entries,” he said. “The students are also going to be asked to complete a daily diary where they say where they were, what they were doing, those types of things so that we can know what was going on at the time of the measurement there as well.”
Wright says an interest in the average BYU-Idaho student inspired this research because there aren’t many studies about undergraduate married students.
“We don’t really know if they’re doing okay,” Wright said. “We assume that they are, of course, with the background here of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, when someone gets married, especially in the temple, we feel that that’s great, that’s good, they’re making all of these good decisions. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re healthy or that their well-being is good.”
Wright is also working with colleagues at BYU and BYU-Hawaii in this study.
Rewards are being offered for married couples who complete the online survey and/or the blood pressure portion of the survey.
Compensation is as follows:
- Participants will receive a $10 Amazon e-card or research credit for completing just the online portion.
OR
- Participants will receive a $10 Amazon e-card or research credit and a $40 Amazon e-card for completing the online survey and the blood pressure portion.
To be eligible to be involved in this study, prospective participants must be:
- 18 or older and a matriculated student at BYU-Idaho
- Not pregnant
- Have a healthy BMI with no cardiovascular health issues
- Have access to a smartphone during the day
To participate in the blood pressure portion of the assessment, the student’s spouse must also participate.
Wright says students often find that participating in studies like this helps students out more than just financially.
“There’s something special about participating in a research study where you intrinsically feel good about yourself. You’re giving back, you’re trying to give to a higher cause. In a way it’s almost like service,” Wright said.
He says universities’ administrations could gain insight into what is going on with married students regarding their health and wellness. This could lead to future programs being better tailored to meet the needs of married students across all three Church Educational System universities.
For more information, email BYUResearch@byui.edu or call the BYU-Idaho Psychology Department at 208-496-4070.
