Altar-Bound? The Effect of Disability on the Hazard of Entry into a First Marriage

Abstract

Researchers consistently find that the experience of disability in childhood can influence future life trajectories, particularly with regard to economic and educational outcomes. However, relatively little research has been conducted to explore the effect of disability on other dimensions of the transition to adulthood: namely, its effect on family-formation outcomes. This study uses data from waves I and IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health in order to assess the effect of various types of disabilities on the likelihood and timing of entry into a first marriage. Both bivariate and multivariate models show that individuals who have a disabling condition have a lower chance of entry into a first marriage than do individuals who do not have a disability. However, further analysis reveals that not all types of disabilities have the same effect on the chances of marriage—individuals with learning disabilities and those with multiple disabilities are at a significantly lower hazard of entry into a first marriage than are their peers without disabilities.

Marriage trends among Americans with childhood-onset disabilities, 1997–2013

“…23 Prior studies on marriage among people with disabilities have used a variety of definitions of disability, ranging from specific chronic conditions to administrative evidence of workers' compensation claims. [4][5][6][7][8][9]11 The NHIS measure of disability is broad enough to include a variety of conditions limiting adults' activities, and is not explicitly restricted to workrelated limitations, in contrast to data from other large population-based surveys. 23 Nevertheless, future work should consider how marriage outcomes have changed among people with more severe physical impairment than captured by this general measure.…”

“…3 Yet, people growing up with disabilities remain less likely than people without disabilities to reach milestones in the transition to adulthood, such as employment, independent living, or marriage. [4][5][6][7][8][9] The present analysis estimated period trends in marriage outcomes of adults with childhood-onset disabilities, hypothesizing that people with disabilities have become better positioned to find and marry a romantic partner, including partners who did not have a disability themselves. Contrary to this hypothesis, data from the last two decades indicated that the retreat from marriage has been especially strong among adults with disabilities, amplifying the disparity in marriage rates by disability status.…”

“…4 People growing up with a disability are less likely to marry compared to people without disabilities. [5][6][7][8][9] For example, among American young adults, disability was associated with 14% lower hazard of entry into first marriage. 7 This delay of marriage among young adults with disabilities may delay transitions to other adult roles, including employment, parenthood, and independent living.…”

“…[5][6][7][8][9] For example, among American young adults, disability was associated with 14% lower hazard of entry into first marriage. 7 This delay of marriage among young adults with disabilities may delay transitions to other adult roles, including employment, parenthood, and independent living. 5,10 Diverse barriers to romantic relationships have been identified among people growing up with disabilities.…”

The marital status of disabled women in Canada: a population-based analysis

“…physical, cognitive, social, emotional) and onset of condition. However, women with cognitive impairment may face more barriers than most to meeting a potential mate, forming a lasting cohabiting relationship, and starting a family of their own (Ali et al 2012;Emerson 2007;Hall et al 2005;Kijak 2013;Lesseliers and Van Hove 2002;MacInnes 2011;Young, Gore, and McCarthy 2012). Historically, many women with cognitive impairment were institutionalized and forcibly sterilized to prevent them from forming relationships and having children (Aunos and Feldman 2002).…”