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Mental health benefits of cohabitation and marriage: A longitudinal analysis of Norwegian register data

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  • Øystein Kravdal
  • Jonathan Wörn
  • Bjørn-Atle Reme

Abstract

The aim is to examine how mental health is affected by cohabitation and marriage. Individual fixed-effects models are estimated from Norwegian register data containing information about consultations with a general practitioner because of mental health conditions in 2006–19. Mental health, as indicated by annual number of consultations, improves over several years before cohabitation. For those marrying their cohabiting partner, there is a weak further reduction in consultations until the wedding, but no decline afterwards. In other words, formalization of the union does not seem to confer additional mental health benefits. However, marriage may be considered a marker of favourable earlier development in mental health. In contrast, there is further improvement after direct marriage, as well as stronger improvement over the years just preceding direct marriage. Patterns are quite similar for women and men. Overall, the results suggest that the mental health benefits of cohabitation and marriage are similar.Supplementary material for this article is available at: https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00324728.2022.2063933. Note: numbers in brackets refer to supplementary notes that can be found at the end of the supplementary material.

Suggested Citation

  • Øystein Kravdal & Jonathan Wörn & Bjørn-Atle Reme, 2023. "Mental health benefits of cohabitation and marriage: A longitudinal analysis of Norwegian register data," Population Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 77(1), pages 91-110, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rpstxx:v:77:y:2023:i:1:p:91-110
    DOI: 10.1080/00324728.2022.2063933
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