The Intermarriage Life Satisfaction Premium

Abstract

Research on the consequences of intermarriage is almost exclusively looking at immigrants' labour market outcomes, with little attention given to non-economic indicators. Drawing from set-point theory and taking on a dynamic approach, the authors examine whether having a different-versus a same-origin partner is subject to a selection on life satisfaction, or associated with a greater short-term improvement in migrants and natives' subjective well-being (SWB). The paper also aims to investigate whether gains from exogamy diminish at a faster rate than those from endogamy, and whether intermarriage produces a long-term drop in SWB. Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel and controlling for time-varying unobserved heterogeneity, we run a set of random-and fixedeffects models that uncover changes in life satisfaction before and after the transition into a mixed marriage. Results provide evidence of a selection on life satisfaction for exogamous first generation migrant men. Findings also show that with the exception of migrant men, there is an inter-partnering SWB gain, albeit insignificant, in the pre-marital cohabitation phase. Native women display an intermarriage premium when transitioning to marriage and shortly after, but also a significant SWB drop in later years. Overall, contrary to previous studies that did not account for unobserved characteristics, we show that in the long run, mixed marriages are not more detrimental to SWB than unions involving same-origin partners.

For better or for worse mental health? The role of family networks in exogamous unions

“…There is a clear gender gradient behind the mental health disadvantages for older individuals in exogamous unions, consistent with findings from previous studies (Milewski & Gawron, 2019; Potarca & Bernardi, 2020). We saw a large and persistent difference in the mental health of exogamous native women compared to their endogamous counterparts, despite little evidence for the selection of natives into exogamous unions.…”

“…We saw a large and persistent difference in the mental health of exogamous native women compared to their endogamous counterparts, despite little evidence for the selection of natives into exogamous unions. On the other hand, exogamous immigrant men suffer poorer mental health compared to all other male groups, corresponding to the Potarca and Bernardi's (2020) findings on individuals of all age groups in Germany. These findings suggest that immigrant men and native women in particular might be negatively affected by experiences attached with either poorer marital quality itself (Kiecolt‐Glaser & Newton, 2001), or interethnic union between a native woman and an immigrant man carry a distinct stigma from that between a native man and an immigrant woman (Qian, 2005).…”

“…Our approach of using the correlated random effects models treats individual level differences, such as varying levels of baseline subjective well‐being (Potarca & Bernardi, 2020) and shows that individual characteristics might play a comparatively more important role in mental health than family networks in older ages. Thus, the present study advances the literature by demonstrating that the associations between mental health and exogamous union in Germany are more multidimensional than the “migrant gain” and “native strain” pattern found in a previous study (Milewski & Gawron, 2019).…”

“…In the German context, the subjective well‐being of individuals in mixed marriages does not seem to vary significantly from those who marry a partner of the same origin in the long run, and the impact of intermarriage affects individuals by gender and nativity (Potarca & Bernardi, 2020). Milewski and Gawron (2019) also found that in exogamous marriages, migrants report lower levels of depression (“migrant gain”) and natives report higher levels of depression (“native strain”) compared to their respective endogamous counterparts.…”

Immigrants’ Life Satisfaction in Intermarriages with Natives: A Family Life Course Perspective

“…By employing a life course perspective by looking at how being in an intermarriage affects the partners' life satisfaction throughout various life stages, including the child-rearing, empty nest, and old age stages, we add to the small number of studies on the association between intermarriage and life satisfaction (e.g., Chang 2016;Potarca and Bernardi 2020). To do so, we employ data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), a rich longitudinal dataset with 35 waves/rounds that include information on immigrants from Western and non-Western countries.…”