1 - (SYM 51) After Obergefell: Associations Between Marital Status and Depressive Symptoms Among Cisgender Sexual Minority Couples

Abstract Body
Sexual minority people experience physical and mental health concerns at disproportionately higher rates compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Romantic relationships can serve as an important context that enhances one’s well-being and protects people from the deleterious impact of stress on mental health. Extensive evidence shows that married heterosexual people report better mental health (e.g., lower depression) compared to their unmarried peers. However, little evidence exists on the link between marital status and mental health among sexual minority individuals, given full legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States only occurred in 2015. To address this research gap, the current study examined the link between marital status and depression among cisgender sexual minority couples using data collected after same-sex marriage was legalized across the United States in Obergefell v. Hodges.
Between 2017 and 2018, 60 cisgender sexual minority couples (30 male and 30 female couples; M age=30, SD=10; 30% racial/ethnic minority; average individual income $35,001-$45,000) across the United States participated in a cross-sectional study. 25% of the couples were legally married, and the mean relationship length was 5 years (SD = 6). Participants reported demographics, including marital status (legally married, civil union, dating), depressive symptoms, relationship satisfaction, and level of commitment. Multilevel models were used to examine associations between one’s marital status and depressive symptoms. Sensitivity analyses controlled for demographics and relationship characteristics.
Results indicated that married couples reported significantly lower depressive symptoms than unmarried couples (B = -4.7, SE = 1.9, p < .05). This finding held after controlling for gender, relationship length, satisfaction, and commitment, but not individual income (B = -3.2, SE  = 1.9, p = .08).
These findings provide initial evidence that being legally married may afford mental health benefits among sexual minority couples above and beyond other relationship characteristics. However, the null result when controlling for individual income suggests that income may play an important role in the protective benefit of marriage on mental health among sexual minority couples. Future research should clarify whether these results might stem from selection into marriage (i.e., better resourced or healthier people marry) or protection by marriage (i.e., marriage reduces risk for depression).