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Lower Marriage and Divorce Rates Among Twins Than Among Singletons in Danish Birth Cohorts 1940–1964

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Inge Petersen*
Affiliation:
The Danish Twin Registry, Epidemiology, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark. ipetersen@health.sdu.dk
Torben Martinussen
Affiliation:
Department of Basic Science and Environment, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Matthew McGue
Affiliation:
The Danish Twin Registry, Epidemiology, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark; Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, United States of America.
Paul Bingley
Affiliation:
The Danish National Centre for Social Research, Denmark.
Kaare Christensen
Affiliation:
The Danish Twin Registry, Epidemiology, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark; Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology and Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
*
*ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Inge Petersen, Institute of Public Health, Epidemiology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, J. B. Winslows Vej 9B, st.tv., 5000 Odense C, Denmark.

Abstract

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Few studies have examined differences of civil status of twins and singletons and the conclusions are contradictory. In the present study, based on a linkage between the Danish Twin Register, a random 5% sample of the total Danish population, and administrative register databases, the authors compare rates of marriage and divorce in a sample of 35,975 twins and 81,803 singletons born 1940–1964. Cox-regressions are used in order to control for potential confounders. We find that compared with singletons twins have significantly lower marriage rates: (males: 15–19 years: Hazard Ratio (HR) = 0.66 (95%CI: 0.58–0.76); 20–24 years: 0.85 (0.82–0.88); 25 years or more: 0.96 (0.93–0.98) and females: 15–19 years: 0.70 (0.67–0.75); 20–24 years: 0.83 (0.80–0.85); 25 years or more: 0.94 (0.91–0.97)). There is no difference in divorce rates for males, but a significantly lower divorce rate for female twins compared with singletons (HR=0.87, 95%CI: 0.83–0.90). These differences offset each other, thus 57% of both populations remain in their first marriage until censoring. The interpretation may be that since twins have a partner from birth, they do not have the same need for marriage as singletons but have more experience in maintaining a relationship if they do marry.

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Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011