Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Study Reveals Social Background Drives Partner Similarity

10/1/2025

31 4

Summary

Story summary

A Norwegian registry-based study finds that only 38% of educational similarity between partners is due to genetics; the majority stems from shared social backgrounds.
Researchers developed a framework distinguishing assortative mating from other sources of similarity, such as social background.
The study analyzed over 1.5 million individuals from 212,070 families, focusing on twins and their partners.

1 of 1

Story summary

A Norwegian registry-based study finds that only 38% of educational similarity between partners is due to genetics; the majority stems from shared social backgrounds.
Researchers developed a framework distinguishing assortative mating from other sources of similarity, such as social background.
The study analyzed over 1.5 million individuals from 212,070 families, focusing on twins and their partners.