Marriage and parenthood are often viewed as exciting milestones to celebrate with loved ones. Romantic partners and children can be important sources of stability, connection, and fulfillment, and married individuals and parents generally have lower rates of psychiatric disorders, substance-related problems, and suicidal behavior than individuals who have never married or had children. But major life changes – even positive ones – can also bring stress, identity changes, and new responsibilities. Emerging research from my lab suggests that, for some individuals, these transitions may increase vulnerability to suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
In an initial study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders in 2023, we examined the association between the transition to marriage and risk for suicidal ideation in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. We found that the relationship depended on age and sex: Among adults younger than 30, marriage was associated with lower risk for suicidal thoughts. In adults over 30, the first 10 years of marriage were associated with higher risk for suicidal ideation, especially among women.
This age-dependent effect was somewhat unexpected. However, some studies suggest that later age at marriage is associated with greater marital instability and conflict during the newlywed years, offering one potential explanation for this pattern of results. Although additional research is needed to explain these associations, our findings highlight that marriage does not always protect against suicidal thoughts. This study also led me to become interested in how other positive life transitions, such as having a child, graduating from college, or starting a new job, might influence suicide risk.
A second study, published earlier this year in Psychological Medicine, focused on how the transition to parenthood might influence risk for a non-fatal suicide attempt. Overall, parenthood was associated with lower risk for suicide attempt in both mothers and fathers. However, some subgroups experienced increased risk, including teen parents, parents with three or more children, and fathers who did not live with their co-parent.
These findings do not mean that marriage or parenthood are harmful. Rather, even though marriage and children can provide important psychosocial benefits, our work suggests that the transition into these new roles is not universally protective.
Importantly, we do not yet understand why these risks emerge, and additional research is needed to identify potential contributors, like stress, financial strain, or disillusionment. Nonetheless, this work highlights that some individuals experience increased suicide risk even in the midst of positive life changes and may benefit from additional support from friends, family members, and clinicians.