The effects of psychiatric disorders on the probability and timing of first marriage
Abstract
While studies of psychopathology have begun to consider social consequences of psychiatric disorders during the past decade, marriage has received little attention, despite evidence that it influences life quality. The present paper examines the effects of clinically significant psychiatric disorders on the probability and timing of first marriage and whether the relationships between psychiatric disorders and marriage differ by type of disorder, gender, and birth cohort. Psychiatric disorders are found to have substantial effects on entry into first marriage. These effects are the same for men and women across all cohorts. Individual psychiatric disorders have similar effects on entry into first marriage. Psychiatric disorders are positively associated with early first marriage, which is strongly related to adverse consequences, and negatively associated with on-time and late first marriage, which are related to benefits such as financial security and social support. These results highlight the importance of early interventions for psychiatric disorders-if not for the purposes of primary prevention, then for the purposes of preventing the cumulation of adversities that occur secondarily through early marriage.
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Early-onset major depressive disorder predicts later difficulties in role transitions, such as lower educational attainment, higher risk of teen childbearing, marital disruption, and unstable employment.
“Early-onset MDD is found to predict difficulties in subsequent role transitions, including low educational attainment, high risk of teen child-bearing, marital disruption, and unstable employment.”
From The Costs of Depression (2012) · cites this paper as [28]
Early-onset mental disorders predict a lower probability of ever marrying, are either positively associated or unrelated with marriage before age 18, and are negatively associated with on-time and late marriage; these patterns are largely similar for men and women and across countries, and major depressive disorder is one of the most important pre-marital mental disorders.
“Early-onset mental disorders predict low probability of ever marrying, but are either positively associated28 or unrelated27 with early (before age 18) marriage, which is known to be associated with a number of adverse outcomes, and negatively associated with on-time and late marriage, which are known to be associated with a number of benefits (e.g., financial security, social support). These ass”
From The Costs of Depression (2012) · cites this paper as [28]
Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder reported in people who die by suicide: from available psychological autopsy studies it is estimated that depression is responsible for the largest proportion of the burden of disease attributed to suicide (as measured in DALYs: 46%; 95%CI 28% to 61%).
“Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder reported in people who die by suicide: from available psychological autopsy studies 203 it is estimated that depression is responsible for the largest proportion of the burden of disease attributed to suicide (as measured in DALYs: 46%; 95%CI 28% to 61%). 204”
From Time for united action on depression: a Lancet–World Psychiatric Association Commission (2022) · cites this paper as [203]
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References 44 · Cited by 130
- Authors
- Forthofer, M. S., Kessler, R. C., Story, A. L., & Gotlib, I. H.
- Affiliations
- University of Michigan (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Health and Social Behavior
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 1996-06
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 121
- ISSN
- 0022-1465 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2009704295
- Cited by
- 130
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 16.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Health and Social Behavior (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH046376, R01 MH46376, R01-MH49098, R01MH049098)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Marriage and Family Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Keywords
- mental illness, first marriage, marriage timing, early marriage, delayed marriage, gender differences, birth cohort, early intervention, financial security, social support
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Mental Disorders, Female, Humans, Male, Marriage, Middle Aged, Quality of Life, United States, Cohort Studies, Comorbidity
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