British Society for Population Studies 2024 Conference

Description

Conference paper: 'Location, Location, Location? Opportunities to meet on mixed-religion relationships in a divided society'.
Demographers frequently use romantic relationships as a barometer for gauging societal acceptance of intergroup contact as it can have the greatest social barriers to cross. Despite declines in sectarian conflict, Northern Ireland society remains divided according to ethno-religious indicators. Past estimates of mixed-religion relationships have put it at around 10% or less of partnerships. Prior research on mixed-religion
relationships in Northern Ireland has focused on prevalence, health, or stability outcomes, or demographic characteristics of couples within these relationships; however, no known study has examined where adults are meeting their partners and how that might shape the prevalence of mixed-relationships. Social barriers can restrict opportunity to meet partners of different backgrounds; if people are meeting partners in segregated social spaces then it is less likely they will form mixed-relationships. This is particularly relevant within Northern Ireland, given the high levels of residential and educational segregation. This research contributes to the literature by utilizing the 2023 Northern Ireland Life and Times, a large-scale
representative survey of adults 18+ (n=1,200), to investigate where and when respondents met their partners, and how or if this is associated with being in a mixed-religion relationship.

Period	11 Sept 2024
Event type	Conference
Conference number	51
Location	Bath, United KingdomShow on map