MARRIAGE IMPACT ON HEALTH FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS IN AMERICA: AN ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF MARRIAGE ON HEALTH FOR THOSE IN SAME-SEX MARRIAGES AND SAME-SEX COHABITING RELATIONSHIPS USING 2016-2018 NHIS DATA

Abstract

A change in ability to enter into a same-sex marriage after the Supreme Court Ruling in 2015 allows for a closer examination of the impact of marriage on health for same-sex couples. The National Health Interview Survey that was conducted in the three years immediately following the legalization of same-sex marriage nation-wide included questions that identify those in same-sex marriages and same-sex cohabiting relationships. I extend what is known about the health behaviors, the health status, and same-sex marriage through an analysis of several health outcomes and risky behaviors. Results indicate that a selection effect may have taken place immediately after same-sex marriage was legalized with those in lower health categories marrying, possibly for the benefit of access to health care through spousal health insurance coverage. Smoking status is the only health behavior that seems to immediately be positively impacted by marriage as those who are married have lower odds of being a smoker than those who cohabit. While lesbians who cohabit have lowest odds of having hypertension, I propose that after more time has passed lesbians who marry will experience higher levels of health and lower levels of risky behaviors. When this happens, we might see a Lesbian Paradox emerge in demographic health data where lesbians who marry lesbians experience higher levels of health and lower mortality risk than men who marry men, regardless of racial or SES background.