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Does marriage protect mental health? Evidence from the COVID‐19 pandemic

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  • Clara E. Jace
  • Christos A. Makridis

Abstract

Using weekly variation from April 23 to June 23 2020, we exploit the surge in unemployment over the coronavirus pandemic to identify the effects on mental health outcomes and the role of marital status as a protective factor for households. We find that married respondents are 1–2 percentage points less likely, relative to their unmarried counterparts, to experience mental health problems following declines in work‐related income since the start of the pandemic. Our results suggest that the combination of intrafamily substitution and the psychological benefits of marriage helps insure against unanticipated fluctuations in job and income loss.

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  • Clara E. Jace & Christos A. Makridis, 2021. "Does marriage protect mental health? Evidence from the COVID‐19 pandemic," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 102(6), pages 2499-2515, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:102:y:2021:i:6:p:2499-2515
    DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.13063
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    Cited by:

    1. Piotr Bialowolski & Christos A. Makridis & Matt Bradshaw & Dorota Weziak-Bialowolska & Craig Gundersen & Noémie Pertel & Cristina Gibson & Sung Joon Jang & R. Noah Padgett & Byron R. Johnson & Tyler J, 2025. "Analysis of demographic variation and childhood correlates of financial well-being across 22 countries," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 9(5), pages 917-932, May.
    2. Stanley Nkemjika & Colvette Brown & Henry Onyeaka & Srikanta Banerjee & Jennifer A. Oliphant, 2025. "Association Between Climate Change Awareness and Depression & Anxiety: Findings from a U.S. Sample," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(9), pages 1-20, September.
    3. Xinxin Ma & Atushi Kawakami & Tomohiko Inui, 2024. "Impact of Long Working Hours on Mental Health Status in Japan: Evidence from a National Representative Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(7), pages 1-22, June.
    4. Jian Zhao & Elaine Chapman & Stephen Houghton, 2022. "Key Predictive Factors in the Mental Health of Chinese University Students at Home and Abroad," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-15, December.
    5. Xinxin MA & Atushi KAWAKAMI & Tomohiko INUI & Meng ZHAO (Moe KONISHI), 2023. "The Impact of Long Working Hours on Mental Health Status in Japan: Evidence from a National Representative Survey," Discussion papers 23069, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    6. Clara E. Piano & Rachael Behr & Kacey Reeves West, 2024. "The supply and demand of marital contracts: the case of same-sex marriage," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 198(3), pages 237-268, March.
    7. Xinxin Ma, 2023. "Impact of Long Working Hours on Mental Health: Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-13, January.
    8. Kingsley Kalu & Gulzar H. Shah & Elizabeth Ayangunna & Bushra Shah & Nandi Marshall, 2024. "The Role of Social Determinants of Health in Self-Reported Psychological Distress among United States Adults Post-COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(9), pages 1-13, September.
    9. Sarah AlKandari & Ahmad Salman & Fatima Al-Ghadban & Rasheed Ahmad, 2022. "A Cross-Sectional Study to Examine the Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Workers in Kuwait," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-10, August.
    10. Lei, Man-Kit & Hanus, Stephanie L. & Simons, Leslie G. & Simons, Ronald L. & Beach, Steven R.H., 2024. "Racial discrimination predicts subjective cognitive decline: Perceived relationship support buffers the association," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 361(C).
    11. Li, Yanan & Sunder, Naveen, 2024. "Distributional effects of education on mental health," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    12. Bialowolski, Piotr & A.Makridis, Christos & Bradshaw, Matt & Bialowolska, Dorota Weziak & Gundersen, Craig & Le Pertel, Noémie & Gibson, Cristina & Jang, Sung Joon & Padgett, R. Noah & Johnson, Byron , 2025. "Analysis of demographic variation and childhood correlates of financial well-being across 22 countries," OSF Preprints 6cnem_v1, Center for Open Science.
    13. Makridis, Christos A., 2022. "When houses of worship go empty: The effects of state restrictions on well-being among religious adherents," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    14. Yumiao Zhang & Wenbin Zang, 2022. "Do the Marital Statuses of Adult Offspring Affect Their Parent’s Mental Health? Empirical Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-18, August.

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