Illness in Marital or Cohabiting Partners: Implications for Welfare Uptake and Labor Market Efforts

Astri Syse , Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Oystein Kravdal, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Siri Rostoft, Oslo University Hospital
Michael J. Thomas, Statistics Norway
Rannveig K. Hart, Department of Health and Inequality, Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Background: Increased attention is paid to the long-term productivity and work ability of individuals with serious illnesses. Less is known of possible consequences for close family members, and we examine possible effects for cancer-free married and cohabiting persons who experience cancer in a partner. Methods: We use rich Norwegian register data (2011-2019) comprising 1.6 million Norwegian-born persons (10 million person-years) in prime working age (25-60 years). We identified 57,000 partners (54% women) to persons diagnosed with cancer 2013-2015. Cancer affected couples represent 4% of individuals (2% of person-years). We apply time-to-event models, controlling for unobservable individual characteristics constant across time, and compare labor market efforts and welfare uptake before and after a cancer diagnosis in partners. We focus on gender differences and changes over time as the initial period of crisis becomes the new normal. Sub-analyses pay particular attention to social inequalities at the family level. Results: Partners’ labor market efforts were affected by cancer, particularly in the short-term. Partners who experience cancer were around 16% less likely to be employed, and sickness benefit uptake was clearly elevated around diagnosis. The uptake of longer-term benefits was evident, but smaller. Across all measures, female partners were more adversely affected than male partners. Conclusion: Cancer has spill-over effects to partners and influences their labor efforts, income, and uptake of health-related benefits. The impact of illness in family members is not reflected in current public policies or compensatory economic mechanisms. Results may thus be of value to patient organizations and policy makers.

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 Presented in Session 95. Families, Ageing and Health