Cohabitation versus Marriage: A Comparison of Relationship Quality

• DOI: 10.2307/353727
• Publication Date: 2006-05-05T10:58:50Z
• Authors: Susan L. Brown; Alan Booth
• Keywords: Cohabitation

Using data from the 1987-1988 National Survey of Families and Households, we evaluate extent to which cohabitation is similar marriage. The quality recently formed cohabiting marital relationships among Black White Americans ages 19 48 investigated in an effort advance our understanding meaning relative Controlling for relationship duration demographic characteristics respondent, find that cohabitors general report poorer than their married counterparts. However, cohabitors' marriage plans largely explain difference marrieds. majority marry partner, these are involved unions not significantly different marriages. In fact, more frequent interaction with partners do marrieds affected same way by presence potential sources stress such as biological children, children past unions, prior union experience. Cohabitation a complex family form. For about half cohabitors, it lasts approximately 2 years then ends, either through or dissolution. others, precursor And one tenth long-term seldom ends (Bumpass & Sweet, 1989). cases, shares many qualities It involves sharing residence personal resources, excluding intimate relations and, substantial number having child. More 10% experience birth child while cohabiting, quarter bring previous current (Bumpass, Cherlin, 1991). Despite its similarity marriage, know almost nothing compared what relations. this article, use Households compare determine qualitatively comparable Additional analyses performed whether moderating variables, experience, have effects on particular relevance today because has become increasingly popular form living. Whereas just 11% marriages between 1965 1974 were preceded cohabitation, 1980 1984, 44% all at least spouse who had cohabited Nearly 50% 20s 30s et al., 1994, there 3.7 million couples United States (U.S. Bureau Census, 1995). Previous research focused premarital subsequent stability. Researchers also debated remaining single. Although some researchers (e.g., Bumpass 1989; 1991) argued highly similar, others Rindfuss VandenHeuvel, 1990) like being This article examines nature assesses two similar. Understanding important only large increasing people cohabit, but because, nontrivial proportion permanent living arrangement, replacement …