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Title: Health Advantage of Marriage? An Examination of Bisexual Population

Citation Type: Conference Paper

Publication Year: 2018

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Abstract: It is widely acknowledged that married individuals have better health outcomes than unmarried individuals. However, this marital advantage paradigm has been developed primarily based on heterosexual populations. No studies to date have discussed the health effects of marriage among bisexuals, although a few have shown mixed results for gays and lesbians. We analyzed pooled data from the 2013-2016 National Health Interview Survey (n=129,519) and found that the health advantage of marriage only applied to heterosexuals and likely gays and lesbians. Married bisexuals did not enjoy better health than unmarried bisexuals. On the contrary, they exhibited poorer health outcomes than never-married and cohabiting bisexuals. This health disadvantage among married bisexuals was not attributable to economic resources or health behaviors. To explain this finding, we adopt a minority stress perspective. We argue that prejudices and stereotypes against bisexuals, such as an inability to commit to monogamous relationships and untrustworthiness as romantic partners, may reduce the health advantage attached to marriage.

Url: https://paa.confex.com/paa/2018/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/21325

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Authors: Hsieh, Ning; Liu, Hui

Conference Name: PAA 2018 Annual Meeting

Publisher Location: Denver, CO

Data Collections: IPUMS Health Surveys - NHIS

Topics: Family and Marriage, Health

Countries: United States