Portland State Magazine Fall 2012

WRITTEN BY SUZANNE PARDINGTON BILL AND BERNADINE met on a blind date and have been married for 64 years and counting. Gina and Heidi, a lesbian couple, sued for the right to marry in Massachu– setts-and won. Rati and Subas have an arranged marriage and never went on a single date before their wedding day. These three couples have three differ– ent rypes of marriages and one thing in common: They are, on average, more likely to be healthier, happier, and better off financially than single people. That's the conclusion of Portland State professor Karen Seccombe in her new textbook, Exploring Marriages & Fami– lies, an introduction for undergraduates on the study of marriage and family as a social science. The benefits of marriage are true for men and women, straight and gay, young and old, no matter how they met or their type of marriage. Seccombe, a professor in the School of Communiry Health, is the author of five other books on poverry, welfare, health care, and social inequaliry. In her review of the latest marriage research, Seccombe found that the ben– efits of marriage are deep, far-reaching, and true for men and women, straight and gay, young and old, no matter how they met or their rype of marriage. "Certainly not all marriages are good ones, but many are," she says. "And chose marriages can increase your hap– piness, because you've got a partner to share the psychological load." Seccombe links the research to real life with stories and online videos about couples like Bill and Bernadine, Gina and Heidi, and Rati and Subas. In the book, she also challenges students to think about relationship research and their personal beliefs in the context of social and political issues. An example is same-sex marriage, which is on the ballot this fall in several states, including Washington. "Same-sex couples are fighting for the right to marry because they, too, know that marriage matters," Seccombe says. Studies show a clear correlation between marriage and lower rates of depression, greater economic securiry, and better health-not only because people with those qualities are more likely to get married in the first place but also because marriage itself promotes chem, Seccombe says. To make her case, she cites several studies, including a 2010 study by the U.S. Census Bureau on income, poverry, and health insurance coverage; 2009 research by Jay Fagan at Temple Univer– siry on depression and marriage; and a 2007 meta-analysis on marital status and morcaliry. The catch? This "marriage premium" is more likely to accrue with legal marriage than with cohabitation. GINA AND HEIDI had lived together for 14 years and raised children together, but they fought for the right to legally ILLUSTRATIONS BY BRETT FORMAN marry because they saw it as a way to protect their family and have the com– muniry recognize their relationship. "The most important reason we wanted to get married is we love each other, and we wanted to be responsible for and to each other," Gina says in Sec– combe's book. "It's a public statement of our love and commitment." Some couples who live together in committed relationships may benefit in the same way as married couples, but in general, marriage makes a difference, says Seccombe. That may be because many cohabiting couples still maintain somewhat separate lives, finances, and health care, she says. For instance, they may not pool their money like married couples, who tend to have greater savings, assets, and retire– ment benefits. Married couples also are more likely to have health insurance, go to the doc– tor more often, and have better health habits, such as drinking and smoking less, resulting in longer lives. Men's health, in particular, benefits from mar– riage, possibly because women tend to encourage their husbands to seek regular health care, says Seccombe. For all these reasons, it is easy to see why historically marriage was primar– ily an economic and social partner– ship and still is in many cultures and countries. Community health professor Karen Seccombe has been married for 12 years and has two daughters. FALL 2012 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE 9