IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v15y2024i1d10.1038_s41467-024-54966-9.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Non-random mating patterns within and across education and mental and somatic health

Author

Listed:
  • Fartein Ask Torvik

    (Norwegian Institute of Public Health
    University of Oslo
    Norwegian Institute of Public Health)

  • Hans Fredrik Sunde

    (Norwegian Institute of Public Health)

  • Rosa Cheesman

    (University of Oslo)

  • Nikolai Haahjem Eftedal

    (University of Oslo)

  • Matthew C. Keller

    (University of Colorado Boulder)

  • Eivind Ystrom

    (University of Oslo
    Norwegian Institute of Public Health)

  • Espen Moen Eilertsen

    (University of Oslo)

Abstract

Partners resemble each other in health and education, but studies usually examine one trait at a time in established couples. Using data from all Norwegian first-time parents (N = 187,926) between 2016–2020, we analyse grade point average at age 16, educational attainment, and medical records of 10 mental and 10 somatic health conditions measured 10 to 5 years before childbirth. We find stronger partner similarity in mental (median r = 0.14) than in somatic health conditions (median r = 0.04), with ubiquitous cross-trait correlations in mental health (median r = 0.13). High grade point average or education is associated with better partner mental (median r = −0.16) and somatic (median r = −0.08) health. Elevated mental health correlations (median r = 0.25) in established couples indicate convergence. Analyses of siblings and in-laws suggest that health similarity is influenced by indirect assortment based on related traits. Adjusting for grade point average or education reduces partner health correlations by 30–40%. These findings have implications for the distribution of risk factors among children, genetic studies, and intergenerational transmission.

Suggested Citation

  • Fartein Ask Torvik & Hans Fredrik Sunde & Rosa Cheesman & Nikolai Haahjem Eftedal & Matthew C. Keller & Eivind Ystrom & Espen Moen Eilertsen, 2024. "Non-random mating patterns within and across education and mental and somatic health," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-54966-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54966-9
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-54966-9
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-024-54966-9?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tanya B. Horwitz & Jared V. Balbona & Katie N. Paulich & Matthew C. Keller, 2023. "Evidence of correlations between human partners based on systematic reviews and meta-analyses of 22 traits and UK Biobank analysis of 133 traits," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 7(9), pages 1568-1583, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hans Fredrik Sunde & Nikolai Haahjem Eftedal & Rosa Cheesman & Elizabeth C. Corfield & Thomas H. Kleppesto & Anne Caroline Seierstad & Eivind Ystrom & Espen Moen Eilertsen & Fartein Ask Torvik, 2024. "Genetic similarity between relatives provides evidence on the presence and history of assortative mating," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-54966-9. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.