Are mixed-ethnic unions more likely to dissolve than co-ethnic unions? New evidence from Britain

Zhiqiang Feng; Paul Boyle; Maarten van Ham; Gillian M. Raab

doi:10.1007/s10680-012-9259-0

Are mixed-ethnic unions more likely to dissolve than co-ethnic unions? New evidence from Britain

Zhiqiang Feng, Paul Boyle, Maarten van Ham, Gillian M. Raab

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The increasing proportion of ethnic minorities in Britain has been paralleled by an increase in the occurrence of mixed-ethnic marriages between one White partner and an ethnic minority partner. Such marriages are thought to be at higher risk of divorce, but empirical studies so far have been inconclusive. This paper uses the Office for National Statistics longitudinal study for England and Wales to investigate whether mixed-ethnic unions are more likely to end in divorce than co-ethnic unions. We followed married couples in 1991-2001 and examined their risks of divorce. We found evidence that mixed-ethnic unions have a higher risk of dissolution than co-ethnic unions. However, after controlling for partners' characteristics, most importantly the younger ages of people in mixed-ethnic unions, the risk of divorce for mixed-ethnic unions was no longer elevated, but lay close to the higher risk found for the two constituent co-ethnic unions.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	159-176
Number of pages	18
Journal	European Journal of Population
Volume	28
Issue number	2
Early online date	25 Apr 2012
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10680-012-9259-0
Publication status	Published - May 2012

Keywords

Mixed-ethnic unions
Longitudinal study
Divorce
Convergence theory
Heterogamy effect
Unions mixtes
Étude longitudinale
Théorie de la convergence
Effet de l’hétérogamie

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10.1007/s10680-012-9259-0

vanHam_2012_EJP_Mixed_AM
© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012. This work is made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the author created, accepted version manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10680-012-9259-0
Accepted author manuscript, 460 KB

Neighbourhoods and the creation stabilit: Neighbourhoods and the creation, stability and success of mixed ethnic unions
Feng, Z. (PI), Boyle, P. J. (CoI), Raab, G. M. (CoI) & Van Ham, M. (CoI)
Economic & Social Research Council
1/10/07 → 30/09/09
Project: Standard

Cite this

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title = "Are mixed-ethnic unions more likely to dissolve than co-ethnic unions? New evidence from Britain",

abstract = "The increasing proportion of ethnic minorities in Britain has been paralleled by an increase in the occurrence of mixed-ethnic marriages between one White partner and an ethnic minority partner. Such marriages are thought to be at higher risk of divorce, but empirical studies so far have been inconclusive. This paper uses the Office for National Statistics longitudinal study for England and Wales to investigate whether mixed-ethnic unions are more likely to end in divorce than co-ethnic unions. We followed married couples in 1991-2001 and examined their risks of divorce. We found evidence that mixed-ethnic unions have a higher risk of dissolution than co-ethnic unions. However, after controlling for partners' characteristics, most importantly the younger ages of people in mixed-ethnic unions, the risk of divorce for mixed-ethnic unions was no longer elevated, but lay close to the higher risk found for the two constituent co-ethnic unions.",

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author = "Zhiqiang Feng and Paul Boyle and {van Ham}, Maarten and Raab, {Gillian M.}",

note = "This research is funded by the ESRC under the Understanding Population Trends and Processes (UPTAP) programme (Award Ref: RES-163-25-0045) ",

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AU - van Ham, Maarten

AU - Raab, Gillian M.

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AB - The increasing proportion of ethnic minorities in Britain has been paralleled by an increase in the occurrence of mixed-ethnic marriages between one White partner and an ethnic minority partner. Such marriages are thought to be at higher risk of divorce, but empirical studies so far have been inconclusive. This paper uses the Office for National Statistics longitudinal study for England and Wales to investigate whether mixed-ethnic unions are more likely to end in divorce than co-ethnic unions. We followed married couples in 1991-2001 and examined their risks of divorce. We found evidence that mixed-ethnic unions have a higher risk of dissolution than co-ethnic unions. However, after controlling for partners' characteristics, most importantly the younger ages of people in mixed-ethnic unions, the risk of divorce for mixed-ethnic unions was no longer elevated, but lay close to the higher risk found for the two constituent co-ethnic unions.

KW - Mixed-ethnic unions

KW - Longitudinal study

KW - Divorce

KW - Convergence theory

KW - Heterogamy effect

KW - Unions mixtes

KW - Étude longitudinale

KW - Théorie de la convergence

KW - Effet de l’hétérogamie

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EP - 176

JO - European Journal of Population

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Are mixed-ethnic unions more likely to dissolve than co-ethnic unions? New evidence from Britain

Abstract

Keywords

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Neighbourhoods and the creation stabilit: Neighbourhoods and the creation, stability and success of mixed ethnic unions

Cite this