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COHABITATION

COHABITATION. Presented by: Christin Ingold Kim Inman Laurie Jachym Crystle Johnson Rachael Jones. Definition . Unmarried persons living together (with sexual relations assumed) Hyde (2003). Cohabitation in the Past. Prior to 1970, cohabitation was illegal in most states Popenoe (1999)

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COHABITATION

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  1. COHABITATION Presented by: Christin Ingold Kim Inman Laurie Jachym Crystle Johnson Rachael Jones

  2. Definition • Unmarried persons living together (with sexual relations assumed) • Hyde (2003)

  3. Cohabitation in the Past • Prior to 1970, cohabitation was illegal in most states • Popenoe (1999) • In 1960, there were 90 married couples per one cohabitating couple • A Few Facts on Cohabitation (2001) • The ‘anti-marriage’ sentiment of the 1960s and 1970s can be used to explain the small numbers of cohabitating couples during that time period • The Problem of Cohabitation (2001)

  4. Cohabitation Today • The majority of young people believe that it is a good idea to live with a person before marriage • Popenoe (1999) • A quarter of unmarried women between 25 and 39 are currently cohabitating • Popenoe (1999) • Today there are 12 married couples per one cohabitating couple • A Few Facts on Cohabitation (2001) • In the U.S., cohabitating couples account for 5.5 million households • A Few Facts on Cohabitation (2001) • Cohabitating couples today are ‘anti-divorce’ and believe that a ‘trial-marriage’ will protect them from divorce • The Problem of Cohabitation (2001)

  5. Types of Cohabitation • Linus Blanket Relationships • Characterized by: • Need to be loved • Fear of being alone • Emancipation Relationships • Characterized by: • Attempt to prove freedom to others • Poor communication/conflict resolution skills • Convenience Relationships • Characterized by: • Splitting of expenses 50/50 • Females generally contribute 70% of the income • Convenient for the male involved • Testing Relationships • Characterized by: • Commitment to relationship • Practice marriage to test compatibility • Types of Cohabitors (2001)

  6. Reasons Behind Cohabitation • Many prenuptial, senior, and retired couples cohabit instead of marrying for financial reasons • Popenoe 1999 • People are more likely to cohabit if their parents have been divorced • The Problem of Cohabitation 2001 • Cohabitation has become a lifestyle for people who are less committed to marriage • The Problem of Cohabitation 2001 • American society is becoming individualistic and people are less willing to make sacrifices for others • The Problem of Cohabitation 2001

  7. ‘Anti-marriage’ sentiments Avoidance of divorce Fear of commitment Test of compatibility Expectation of a future relationship Independence Stability Value change Decline in the influence of religion Conformity Financial reasons Rebellion Explanations for Cohabitating (2001) Reasons Continued

  8. Positive Aspects of Cohabitation • Share expenses • Popenoe (1999) • Learn about each other • Popenoe (1999) • Avoid responsibility of partner’s debt • The Problem of Cohabitation (2001) • No legal entanglements • The Problem of Cohabitation (2001) • Easy to leave relationship • The Problem of Cohabitation (2001)

  9. Negative Aspects of Cohabitation • Lower levels of happiness, sexual enjoyment, and well-being than married couples • Popenoe (1999) • Cohabitation may lead to marital failure • Popenoe (1999) • Cohabiters are nine times more likely to split up than married couples • The Problem of Cohabitation 2001 • Cohabitation (lack of stability) is harmful for children • Popenoe (1999) • Living together is not necessarily a transition period that leads to marriage • Grabmeier (2004) • 42% of cohabiters disagree on the future of their relationship • Grabmeier (2004)

  10. Myths About Cohabitation • Everybody’s Doing It • 30-40% of college students cohabit • Economically It’s Worth It To Live Together • It is cheaper for two to live together • Compromise moral standards • Majority break up and finance is not a factor at that point • Cohabitation Increases Chances of a Happier Marriage • Divorce rate is sky rocketing and so is cohabitation (there is a correlation between the two) • Doing It Won’t Hurt Anyone • Friends/family are affected • It’s Nobody’s Business • There are birth, health, and disease issues associated with cohabitation that affect others • Myths About Cohabitation (2001)

  11. Myths Continued • It’s Alright Because We’re Really In Love • Love is the greatest reason to avoid premarital sexual relationships • But We’re Going to be Married Anyway • There is often one person in the relationship that does not think the relationship is permanent or lifelong • It’ll Enhance My Self-Esteem and Inner Security • People need to give all or nothing • If people only give pieces of themselves, then they will not be whole • Marriage is Only a Piece of Paper • Marriage is a commitment that is not there without the institution • Myths About Cohabitation (2001)

  12. Facts About Cohabitation • Nearly 50% of people in their 20s and 30s cohabit • The average length of cohabitation is 1.3 years • Long-term cohabitating relationships in the U.S. are rarer than marriages • If couples abstain from sex before marriage, they are 29-47% more likely to enjoy sex during marriage • Most cohabitating couples marry or break up within two years • A Few Facts on Cohabitation (2001)

  13. Facts Continued • 10-30% of cohabitors never plan to marry • Over 25% of unmarried mothers are cohabitating at the time of their children’s birth • 40% of cohabitating couples have children • Rates of depression are three times higher in cohabitating women • Cohabitating women are more irritable, anxious, worried, and unhappy • Assault is 62 times more likely among cohabitating couples • A Few Facts on Cohabitation (2001)

  14. Facts Continued • Cohabiters experience more difficulty in their future marriages with adultery, alcohol, drugs, and independence than their non-cohabitating counterparts • Cohabiters are more violent than married couples • Cohabiters are more likely than married people to be depressed or have drinking problems • Married people are more financially stable than cohabiters • Staton (2003)

  15. Facts Continued • Children living with their mothers and an unmarried partner display high levels of problem behavior at home and at school and also have low academic performance • Staton (2003) • The poverty rate for children is five times higher for children living with cohabitating parents than those living with intact families • Staton (2003) • Parents who cohabit break up at a higher rate than married parents and the children suffer • Popenoe (1999)

  16. Facts Continued • Many cohabitating couples decide that they are satisfied in their current situations and do not get married • Grabmeier (2004) • 20% of cohabitating women say that they have had secondary sex partners while in that relationship • Harms (2000) • The 1992 National Health and Social Life Survey says that cohabitating couples have an average of one additional sexual act in a month more than married couples • Harms (2000)

  17. Research • Expressed Attitudes of Adolescents Towards Marriage and Family Life • Martin, Specter, Martin, & Martin (2003) • Examined survey responses from 200 9th-12th graders • Used the Marriage and Family Life Survey • The survey examines different dimensions of relationships • Sex, cohabitation, rule of religion, marriage status of parents, etc. • From the responses, they found that the adolescents view cohabitation as a means of increasing the chances of successful marriage • 50.4% held positive attitudes towards cohabitation • 27% held negative attitudes towards cohabitation • 22.6% held no opinion • 48.7% would want to live with someone before they marry • If they were exposed to divorce in their family, they may be looking for something to enhance their future relationships

  18. Research Continued • Characteristics of College Students Who Cohabit • Knox, Zusman, Snell, & Cooper (1999) • Used a questionnaire at ECU to survey 568 students to identify characteristics of students who cohabit • Findings: • The older the student, the more likely they reported having cohabitated • 20+ year olds were more likely than 18-19 year olds to cohabit • Students with hedonistic values were more likely to cohabit • Hedonism is a belief of the sexual value of, “If it feels good do it” • Students who have dated someone of another race or would date someone of another race were more likely to cohabit

  19. Research Continued • Cohabitation in the United States: An Appraisal of Research Themes, Findings, and Implications • Smock (2000) • Cohabitation is a short-lived trend • 55% end up in marriage • 40% the relationship ends within 5 years of starting to cohabitate • Only about 1/6 of cohabitations last 3 years • Only about 1/10 last 5+ years • Cohabitation usually involves children in the relationship • ½ of previously married cohabiters have children in the household • 35% of never-married cohabiters have children in the household • 70% of the children living in a cohabiting household are only from one of the partners • 40% of nonmarital births are from cohabitating households

  20. Research Continued • Cohabitation in the United States: An Appraisal of Research Themes, Findings, and Implications • Smock (2000) • Characteristics of Cohabiters • Low socioeconomic status • 60% are high school drop outs • 37% are college graduates • Have more liberal values • Less religious • More supportive of egalitarian gender roles • It’s common in subgroups

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