Term: Marital Status

Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2012-11-05

Definition:

The relationship status of an individual.

Different sources of data provide different measures of marital status. For example, the Manitoba Health Insurance Registry includes the categories: married, single, and widowed. The 1996 National Population Health Survey (NPHS) includes the categories: now married, common-law, with partner, single, widowed, separated, and divorced. In Heaman et al. (2012), they used the Families First Screening Form and the Registry to identify three categories: married/partnered, lone parent and unknown.

Related concepts 

• Separation - Family Structure

Related terms 

• Divorce
• Single Parent (formerly Lone Parent)
• Spouse
• Widow / Widower

References 

• Heaman M, Kingston D, Helewa M, Brownell M, Derksen S, Bogdanovic B, McGowan K, Bailly A. Perinatal Services and Outcomes in Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2012. [Report] [Summary] [Updates and Errata] (View)

Term used in 

• Brownell M, Santos R, Kozyrskyj A, Roos N, Au W, Dik N, Chartier M, Girard D, Ekuma O, Sirski M, Tonn N, Schultz J. Next Steps in the Provincial Evaluation of the BabyFirst Program: Measuring Early Impacts on Outcomes Associated with Child Maltreatment. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2007. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Finlayson GS, Forget E, Ekuma O, Derksen S, Bond R, Martens P, De Coster C. Allocating Funds for Healthcare in Manitoba Regional Health Authorities: A First Step--Population-Based Funding. Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2007. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Menec V, Lix L, Steinbach C, Ekuma O, Sirski M, Dahl M, Soodeen R. Patterns of Health Care Use and Cost at the End of Life. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2004. [Report] [Summary] (View)