The Negative Effects Of Cohabitation On Marriage

There are more single women than men in the U.S. population. In 1996 and 2006, the number of adults living alone worldwide went from 153 million to 202 million. When relationships are formed between singles both the man and the woman tend to remain highly independent. Both men and women are typically employed and tend to be economically and emotionally independent. Their relationships tend to greatly emphasize autonomy and egalitarian roles. Also, aside from living alone, the personal, social, and economic costs associated with being single has been reduced.

Many singles appear to be postponing marriage to an age that makes better economic and social sense. The divorce rate also contributed to the number of singles because the fear of divorce likely deters some from marrying. There are many types of

Research has documented higher levels of disagreement and instability, lower levels of commitment, and greater likelihood of divorce. Cohabitation before marriage has been found to cause more negative marital communication, lower levels of satisfaction with marriage, gradual erosion of the value of marriage and child rearing, and a greater likelihood of divorce. However, the negative impact of cohabitation on marriage is not found among cohabitors who begin living together already engaged or with definite plans to get married at some later time.

Same-sex couples struggles with many of the same things as heterosexual couples. However, same-sex couples who legalize their relationships with either civil unions or legal marriage are less likely to end their relationship than are same-sex couples not in legally recognized relationships. Also, cohabitating same-sex couples also struggle with money, housework, power, and abuse. However, same-sex couples place greater emphasis on fairness in sharing domestic responsibilities and sharing power within the