The validity of astrological predictions on marriage and divorce: a longitudinal analysis of Swedish register data

This paper examines astrology, a concept that is considered unscientific by broad segments of the population in the western world. Despite this, astrology remains for some an important source for advice regarding choices in a range of different matters, including career and relationships. The contin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Genus 2020-10, Vol.76 (1), p.1-18, Article 34
Main Authors: Helgertz, Jonas, Scott, Kirk
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astrology
Demography
Divorce
Humanities
Law
Longitudinal analysis
Marriage
Original Article
Population Economics
Samhällsvetenskap
Social Sciences
Sociologi
Sociologi (exklusive socialt arbete, socialpsykologi och socialantropologi)
Sociology
Sociology (excluding Social Work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)
Statistics for Social Sciences
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Summary:This paper examines astrology, a concept that is considered unscientific by broad segments of the population in the western world. Despite this, astrology remains for some an important source for advice regarding choices in a range of different matters, including career and relationships. The continuing popularity of astrology may at least partly be linked to an insufficient body of empirical research that has been able to test hypotheses formulated by astrological theory, both due to a lack of data beyond very small study populations as well as astrological predictions frequently being vague and thereby difficult to test. This article examines how differences in astrological favorability influence partner choice in marriage as well as the divorce risk among married couples using longitudinal individual-level data from Sweden over the period 1968-2001. The results fail to provide any consistent evidence to support the notion that astrologically more compatible couples are either overrepresented among observed marital unions or associated with a lower risk of divorce.
ISSN:2035-5556
2035-5556
DOI:10.1186/s41118-020-00103-5