Our Research

HARP research demonstrates that marriage plays a pivotal role in shaping health, well-being, and relationship quality across mid- to later life, but these processes unfold differently in same- and different-sex marriages. Drawing on dyadic survey and diary data, we suggest that marital strain often undermines mental health, memory, and psychological well-being—particularly for women in different-sex marriages—while supportive dynamics such as collaborative coping and equitable care work are more common and beneficial in same-sex marriages. Sexual motives, emotion work, and spousal influence over health behaviors reveal both protective and harmful effects, depending on gender and relational context. Concerns about cognitive decline, stress, and discrimination also reverberate within marriages, shaping how spouses support (or strain) each other. Collectively, we highlight the ways in which gender and couple type profoundly structure marital dynamics, with important implications for health disparities, caregiving, and aging.