Schuler, Isabell (2024) Marriage and the Mental Health of Sexual Orientation Minorities. Master thesis.
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Abstract
Previous research shows a generally positive association between marriage and mental health in different-sex couples, with married individuals exhibiting better mental health than their unmarried counterparts. However, limited knowledge exists on how marriage affects the mental health of sexual minority individuals. Given that sexual minorities experience worse mental health than heterosexuals, it is crucial to explore whether marriage can help mitigate these disparities. This thesis examines the effect of marriage on the mental health of sexual minority individuals (lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons) compared to heterosexuals before, during, and after marriage in the United Kingdom. Using data from waves 1 to 13 of the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Study, 20,715 participants (1,295 sexual minority and 19,420 heterosexual individuals) were analyzed through fixed-effect regression models to assess mental health changes across different marital phases by sexual orientation. Results reveal that marriage has a long-term positive effect on mental health for both sexual minority individuals and heterosexuals. Contrary to expectations, sexual minority individuals experience greater mental health gains from marriage than heterosexuals across all marital phases, though these effects were neither statistically significant nor robust. Despite the mental health benefits, disparities between sexual minorities and heterosexuals persist. While marriage can improve the mental health of sexual minorities, it alone is insufficient to overcome broader discrimination and minority stress. Reducing these ongoing disparities requires societal tolerance beyond institutional equality, alongside further research and data collection efforts to accurately understand and address marriage effects and mental health needs of sexual minorities.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Degree programme: | Population Studies |
| Supervisor: | Vogt, T.C. |
| Date Deposited: | 04 Sep 2024 11:50 |
| Last Modified: | 04 Sep 2024 11:50 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4752 |
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