Researchers analyzing over six million couples across Taiwan, Denmark, and Sweden discovered that romantic partners frequently share similar psychiatric conditions. Scientists found people with diagnosed psychiatric disorders had higher likelihood of marrying someone with the same or similar condition. The research covered nine disorders including depression, anxiety, substance-use disorder, bipolar disorder, anorexia nervosa, ADHD, autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia. Researchers suggest “assortative mating” may explain the pattern, where people choose partners with similar traits extending beyond personality into mental health. Other theories include shared environments, attachment styles, and social identity factors. The findings are observational only and don’t measure relationship quality or timing of diagnoses versus relationship start dates. (Story URL)
PHONE TOPIC: What ‘disorder’ do you think you share with your partner?