The marital status of disabled women in Canada: a population-based analysis

Abstract

Surprisingly little population-based data exist on the marriage and relationship patterns of disabled women. This study investigated the formation and dissolution of marriage and common-law relationships involving disabled women in Canada. A secondary data analysis of the 2009 Canadian Community Health Survey was undertaken. The effective sample size for the study was 41,650 women, 18–59 years, including 9450 disabled women. The findings suggest that disabled women in Canada are less likely to be married or in a cohabiting relationship, although it appears that most will marry at some point. Among disabled women, those with early onset conditions, cognitive impairment, mobility limitations and lower levels of educational attainment are more likely to remain single, that is, never having entered into a cohabiting relationship. A plausible explanation for the observed differences in marital status is that disabled women have less opportunity to meet potential partners and form lasting cohabiting relationships.

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