Subjective Well-being and Partnership Dynamics: Are Same-Sex Relationships Different?

Shuai Chen and Jan C. Ours
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Jan C. Ours: Erasmus School of Economics

Demography, 2018, vol. 55, issue 6, No 14, 2299-2320

Abstract: Abstract We analyze Dutch panel data to investigate whether partnership has a causal effect on subjective well-being. As in previous studies, we find that, on average, being in a partnership improves well-being. Well-being gains of marriage are larger than those of cohabitation. The well-being effects of partnership formation and disruption are symmetric. We also find that marriage improves well-being for both younger and older cohorts, whereas cohabitation benefits only the younger cohort. Our main contribution to the literature is on well-being effects of same-sex partnerships. We find that these effects are homogeneous to sexual orientation. Gender differences exist in the well-being effects of same-sex partnerships: females are happier cohabiting, whereas marriage has a stronger well-being effect on males.

Keywords: Subjective well-being; Happiness; Marriage; Cohabitation; Same-sex relationships (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Working Paper: Subjective Well-being and Partnership Dynamics; Are Same-sex Relationships Different? (2017)
Working Paper: Subjective Well-Being and Partnership Dynamics: Are Same-Sex Relationships Different? (2017)
Working Paper: Subjective Well-being and Partnership Dynamics; Are Same-Sex Relationships Different? (2017)
Working Paper: Subjective Well-being and Partnership Dynamics; Are Same-sex Relationships Different? (2017)
Working Paper: Subjective Well-being and Partnership Dynamics; Are Same-sex Relationships Different? (2017)
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DOI: 10.1007/s13524-018-0725-0

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