ISR’s Kira Birditt explains why ‘concordant drinking’ may strengthen marital bonds in Insights talk

December 9, 2024

Contact: Jon Meerdink ([email protected])

ANN ARBOR — Alcohol abuse is a significant public health issue. Heavy use of alcohol one of the leading causes of mortality and disability worldwide, and the increasing use of alcohol is an ongoing concern for older generations.

Heavy drinking is a particular concern for older adults. The definition of heavy drinking provided by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism can vary by age and gender.

But perhaps counterintuitively, people who are married who drink heavily may have better relationships, despite whatever negative health consequences drinking may be.

Kira Birditt, a research professor at ISR’s Survey Research Center, presented her findings on concordant drinking during an Insights talk on Thursday, December 5. She said it’s important to understand drinking within the context of marriage because of the many different health effects marriage appears to have.

“Married people share the same environments. They tend to share the same health behaviors and the same life stressors that might influence those behaviors and couples are often similar across many health indicators, including things like depressive symptoms, sleep, physical activity, and alcohol use.”

According to Birditt’s research, married couples that drink about the same amount (defined by Birditt as “concordant drinkers”) report greater marital satisfaction and may have longer lifespans.

Why? It’s a simple question with a complicated answer. View Birditt’s entire Insights presentation here, and learn more about ISR’s Insights Speaker Series here.

Scroll to Top