Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/319118 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 17849
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
We analyze the impact of unexpected health shocks–defined as the sudden diagnosis of cancer, stroke, or heart attack–on the probability of couple dissolution using longitudinal representative data on older individuals (50+). We leverage the longitudinal nature of the HRS and utilize a quasi-experimental research approach that creates counterfactual scenarios for affected households by comparing them to households set to experience the same event in subsequent years. We find that experiencing a health shock significantly increases the probability of couple dissolution by approximately 19% of the mean divorce prevalence. This effect intensifies gradually over time rather than appearing immediately after the adverse health event. Additionally, we examine several mechanisms through which health shocks may influence divorce, focusing on three potential channels: mental health, cognitive decline, and financial strain. Our findings suggest that all three mechanisms likely play a role in mediating the relationship between health shocks and the increased probability of divorce.
Subjects: 
divorce
health shocks
aging
JEL: 
I14
I24
J15
Z13
J13
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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