Economics and Accounting Honors Theses

Date of Creation

5-1-2021

Degree Type

Departmental Honors Thesis - Restricted Access

First Advisor

Professor Monica Carney

Abstract

Recent literature in economics has documented improvements in labor market outcomes for individuals in same-sex partnerships following the passage of state- and local-level sexual orientation anti-discrimination laws, but little is known about the mental health effects of this legislation. Using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and a panel dataset of state- and local-level sexual orientation anti-discrimination laws, I exploit the variation in the passage of these laws to empirically evaluate their effect on the mental health of men and women in same-sex partnerships. Results indicate a direct improvement in mental health for women in same-sex partnerships and a decreased reliance on coping mechanisms for men in same-sex partnerships following the passage of sexual orientation anti-discrimination laws. These results suggest that anti-discrimination legislation is an important vehicle through which mental health outcomes are improved for individuals in same-sex partnerships in the United States.

Comments

Reader: Professor Josh Congdon-Hohman

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