Currently Cohabiting: Relationship Attitudes, Expectations and Outcomes

Coast, Ernestina

doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-9682-2_6

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…Additionally paying attention to attitudes towards the institution of marriage is particular relevant to understand how cohabiters without clear marital intentions view their unions. As Coast (2009) noted, the absence of marital intentions can mean different things: the ideological rejection of the institution of marriage, an assessment that the current partner is not a suitable potential spouse but no opposition to marriage per se, or that the couple is not yet contemplating marriage. The attitude one holds about the institution of marriage is likely to be intertwined with how relevant it is for oneself to get married.…”

Section: Distinguishing Different Types Of Cohabitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Diversity in the Meaning of Cohabitation Across Europe

2014

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This study investigates the diversity in the meanings attached to cohabitation across Europe.Utilizing a sample of 9,113 cohabiters between ages 18 and 79 from ten European countries that participated in the Generations and Gender Surveys, we develop a typology of different meanings of cohabitation and study their prevalence across and within countries. Based on answers to questions about marriage intentions, marriage attitudes and feelings of economic deprivation, six types of cohabiters are distinguished. Cohabiters in some of these types mainly view cohabitation as a stage in the marriage process (i.e., a prelude to marriage, a trial marriage, cohabitation for economic reasons, intend to marry despite an unfavourable attitude towards the institution of marriage), whereas other cohabiters mainly view it as an alternative to marriage (i.e., refusal of marriage, marriage is irrelevant). Results suggest that cohabiters constitute a heterogeneous group. For many, marriage is important and cohabitation serves as a period preceding marriage. Cohabitation as an alternative to marriage is more prevalent in Western and Northern Europe where cohabitation rates are high. The group of cohabiters who intend to marry despite an unfavourable attitude towards the institution of marriage is particularly large in Central and Eastern European countries, where cohabitation is less widespread.

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Section: Distinguishing Different Types Of Cohabitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Diversity in the Meaning of Cohabitation Across Europe

2014

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“…In countries where the decision to get married is interpreted as a consequence of high interpersonal commitment we would expect commitment within cohabitation to be higher. It has to be noted, however, that the aspiration of marriage can also indicate a perceived absence of alternatives to marriage and thus an expression of conformism (Coast 2009). If cohabiters in Central and Eastern Europe enter cohabitation predominantly with the aspiration to marry soon they might adopt marriage-like patterns of income organization right from the start of their union.…”

Section: The Comparative Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Income pooling strategies among cohabiting and married couples

Hiekel¹,

Liefbroer²,

Poortman³

2014

DemRes

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Marriage and separation risks among German cohabiters: Differences between types of cohabiter

2015

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Running title:Marriage and separation among cohabiters Germany presents an interesting case for the study of contextual variation in the meaning of cohabitation and its association with relationship transitions. Despite aligned institutional and political conditions in eastern and western Germany since the reunification in 1990, the two regions of the country have continued to differ in their patterns of relationship and family behaviour. Our study examined differences in the prevalence of specific types of cohabitation in eastern and western Germany and investigated whether these types were differently associated with transitions to marriage and separation. We used data from the German Family Panel (PAIRFAM) and the supplementary study 'Demographic differences in the life course dynamics in Eastern and Western Germany' (DEMODIFF). The data allowed us to follow eastern and western German cohabiting men and women born between 1971 and 1973 and between 1981 and 1983 over a period of up to four years. We constructed a typology of cohabitation and assessed its association with marriage and separation by means of competing risk analysis, controlling for other relevant demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the cohabiting population. Marriage and separation among cohabiters 5 5The study contributes to the literature on cohabitation in two ways. First, because we combined marital intention and attitude in order to classify cohabiters into different types of cohabitation, we are able to show that there is substantial heterogeneity in the cohabiting population in Germany as well as important differences between the eastern and western part of the country. Second, because we used a prospective approach and longitudinal survey data, we are able to provide valuable insights into how the meanings that cohabiters attach to their relationships (as indicated by their responses to the measures of marital intentions and attitude) shape their relationship careers. Ultimately, this study increases our understanding of the role of cohabitation in processes of union formation and dissolution.

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Currently Cohabiting: Relationship Attitudes, Expectations and Outcomes

Cited by 4 publications

References 72 publications

Understanding Diversity in the Meaning of Cohabitation Across Europe

Understanding Diversity in the Meaning of Cohabitation Across Europe

Income pooling strategies among cohabiting and married couples

Marriage and separation risks among German cohabiters: Differences between types of cohabiter

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