Married Men's Coresidence with Parents or In-Laws and Later Life Mortality

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Demography
• Gerontology

Background:

• Married men generally exhibit a mortality advantage compared to unmarried men.
• Previous research has not specifically isolated the impact of parental co-residence on married men's longevity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between co-residence arrangements and mortality among married men.
• To determine if living with parents, in-laws, or only a spouse affects longevity.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the CenSoc data set, linking the 1940 US Census with Social Security Administration Death Master Files.
• Analyzed data for 1.7 million married men (ages 21-45) who died between 1975 and 2005.

Main Results:

• Married men living solely with their spouse had a higher age at death.
• Co-residence with parents reduced lifespan by approximately 4 months; co-residence with in-laws reduced it by 2 months.
• Household head status conferred an additional longevity advantage.

Conclusions:

• Parental or in-law co-residence may impose burdens that negatively impact married men's longevity.
• Intergenerational relationship norms and expectations influence the effect of co-residence on mortality.
• Specific living arrangements can contribute to a trajectory of declining longevity.