A sweeping new study has revealed that people with psychiatric disorders are more likely to marry partners who share similar mental health struggles, rather than someone without a diagnosis. This finding challenges long-held assumptions about relationships and sheds light on how mental illness shapes not only individual lives but also family dynamics across generations.
Chun Chieh Fan, co-author of the study and researcher at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research, explained to Nature:
“The pattern holds across countries, across cultures, and, of course, generations.”
Rising Mental Health Concerns in the U.S.
Psychiatric disorders are on the rise, affecting 23.1% of adults in the U.S. in 2022, compared with 18.1% just two decades earlier, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Conditions such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder are among the most commonly diagnosed.
Past research has shown that when one spouse faces mental health issues, the other partner is two to three times more likely to experience stress, anxiety, or depression. The latest findings go a step further, suggesting that mental illness might not only strain relationships but also play a role in forming them.
Inside the Study: Mental Health and Marriage
Fan and colleagues examined health records of 14.8 million people across Taiwan, Denmark, and Sweden. The researchers studied nine psychiatric disorders:
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- ADHD
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Substance-use disorder
- Anorexia nervosa
The findings showed that individuals with psychiatric diagnoses are significantly more likely to marry partners who also have mental health conditions—and often with the same diagnosis.
This pattern has only strengthened over time, steadily rising among couples born between the 1930s and 1990s. While cultural contexts varied, spousal correlations across psychiatric disorders were remarkably consistent across countries. For example, Taiwanese couples were more likely to share an OCD diagnosis compared to couples in Nordic nations.
Why Do People With Mental Health Disorders Marry Each Other?
Although the study did not identify a single cause, researchers proposed several explanations:
- Shared understanding: People who have faced similar struggles may better empathize with each other, creating stronger bonds.
- Convergence effect: Couples may grow more alike over time due to shared environments and experiences.
- Social stigma: Negative societal attitudes toward mental illness can limit dating opportunities, shaping who individuals partner with.
Impact on Children and Families
One of the most striking findings psychiatric disorders was that children with two parents who share the same disorder are nearly twice as likely to develop it compared to children with only one affected parent. This effect was especially pronounced for conditions with strong genetic components, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and substance-use disorders.
In the U.S., 1 in 6 children aged 6–17 experience a mental health disorder each year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). This highlights the need for early intervention, family-based support, and improved access to mental health care.
Broader Health and Relationship Impacts
Psychiatric disorders don’t just affect the mind—they influence the body, relationships, and communities. For example:
- People with depression face a 40% higher risk of heart and metabolic diseases compared to the general population.
- Marriages where one partner struggles with a mental health condition face higher divorce rates, and the risk increases even more when both partners are affected.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) –
Q1: Why do people with psychiatric disorders often marry each other?
They may share a deeper understanding of each other’s struggles, feel less judged, or experience limited dating opportunities due to stigma.
Q2: Does having two parents with a psychiatric disorder increase risks for children?
Yes. Children are about twice as likely to develop the same condition if both parents share a diagnosis, particularly for genetic-based disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Q3: Can mental health conditions affect physical health?
Absolutely. Depression, anxiety, and chronic stress are linked to higher risks of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
Q4: How do psychiatric disorders affect relationships?
They can create challenges such as communication difficulties, financial strain, or emotional stress. However, with treatment and support, many couples build healthy, resilient relationships.
Q5: What resources are available for couples struggling with mental illness?
Options include couples therapy, individual counseling, psychiatric treatment, peer support groups, and community-based mental health services.
