Maria Stanfors

Professor

Ethnic Composition of Couples and Mutual Health Benefit Receipt: Register-Based Evidence from Finland

Author

Jan Saarela
Maria Stanfors
Mikael Rostila

Summary, in English

We study partners’ mutual receipt of sickness allowance and disability pension in ethnically endogamous and exogamous couples in Finland. The population consists of native individuals in similar socioeconomic positions but belonging to two different ethnic groups, Finnish and Swedish speakers, which differ regarding health and cultural practices related to family life. Using data from population registers (1987-2011, n = 36,034 couples), we estimate discrete-time hazard models for first-time benefit receipt related to partner’s benefit receipt among
midlife couples. We find evidence of mutual receipt of health benefits in both endogamous and exogamous couples, the correlation being strongest for disability pension. Partner correlation in disability pension receipt is slightly stronger in endogamous Swedish than in endogamous Finnish couples, while women in exogamous couples are slightly less sensitive to men’s receipt than vice versa. These findings show that the ethnic composition of couples is important for mutual health benefit receipt.

Department/s