Divorce risk in same-sex and opposite-sex couples: A register-based study of the roles of religious affiliation, income, and country of birth

Elina Einio , University of Helsinki
Maria Ponkilainen, University of Helsinki
Mikko Myrskyla, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research

Studies have shown that the risk of divorce is higher for same-sex couples, especially for female couples, compared to opposite-sex couples. The underlying reasons are, however, poorly understood. In the present study, we examine whether religious affiliation, income, or country of birth plays any role in explaining the heightened divorce risk among same-sex couples. It has been argued that religious affiliation may raise the perceived costs of leaving a marriage, but its role in shaping divorce risks is seldom studied. Drawing on prospective register data of same-sex and opposite-sex couples from Finland, the results suggest that religious affiliation plays a role—although modest—in explaining same-sex couples’ heightened divorce risk given that they are less religious and religion appears to stabilize marriages. Our findings regarding couples’ income and country of birth are ambiguous. An international spouse appears to destabilize marriages for male couples and opposite-sex couples but not for female couples.

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 Presented in Session 4. Same-sex Couples and Queer Identities