Living Apart Together Relationships (LAT): Severing Intimacy from Obligation

Upton-Davis, Karen

doi:10.1007/s12147-012-9110-2

Cited by 36 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…We favor a definition of LAT that separates LAT as a unique intimate tie considered an end in itself from LAT as a temporary arrangement, ideally on the way to marriage or cohabitation. This follows earlier calls for distinguishing between LAT as a substitute partnership rather than a stepping stone to an established form of partnership (Ermisch & Siedler, ; Upton‐Davis, ). We define LAT as a chosen, intimate relationship between partners who are committed to LAT and to each other for the long term and who live in separate homes (see Benson & Coleman, ; de Jong Gierveld, ; de Jong Gierveld & Peeters, ; Levin, ; Upton‐Davis, ).…”

Section: What Is Lat?mentioning

confidence: 84%

“…This follows earlier calls for distinguishing between LAT as a substitute partnership rather than a stepping stone to an established form of partnership (Ermisch & Siedler, ; Upton‐Davis, ). We define LAT as a chosen, intimate relationship between partners who are committed to LAT and to each other for the long term and who live in separate homes (see Benson & Coleman, ; de Jong Gierveld, ; de Jong Gierveld & Peeters, ; Levin, ; Upton‐Davis, ). Some include the additional provisos that such LAT relationships are sexually active and publicly known (Levin, ; Stevens, ) and monogamous (de Jong Gierveld, ).…”

Section: What Is Lat?mentioning

confidence: 84%

“…Cultural variations in the degree to which marriage is entrenched as the acceptable form of intimate relationship make ambivalence a useful concept for comparative research on LAT later in life. Striking a balance between having a committed relationship and maintaining autonomy (Karlsson & Borell, ; Upton‐Davis, )—a central contradiction of LAT—is a source of ambivalence negotiated by individuals and couples in the context of social arrangements that promote marriage and, more recently, cohabitation. Contradictions at the level of structured social relations also underscore the differential appeal and accessibility of LAT as an option, for example, based on gender and class.…”

Section: Conceptual Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The concepts of life stage and linked lives (Heinz, ) are especially relevant to studying LAT across the life course. Circumstances and reasons for forming unions at different life stages vary markedly (Upton‐Davis, ). Among younger adults, many still aim for forging a secure economic future and having children, goals that make cohabitation and marriage more probable objectives.…”

Section: Conceptual Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The link between policy and LLAT and its impact on negotiating caregiving is an important component of this topic. As Upton‐Davis () observed, LLAT also has policy implications for housing if more old people continue to live alone even when in an intimate relationship and for health care arrangements given that one cannot assume that having a partner means receiving care. To date, LLAT among heterosexuals tends to be more common among those with more resources (Upton‐Davis, ).…”

Section: Proposed Research Agendamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ambivalence and Living Apart Together in Later Life: A Critical Research Proposal

Connidis

Borell

Karlsson

2017

J of Marriage and Family

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Most unattached older persons who would like an intimate partnership do not want to remarry or be in a marriage‐like relationship. A growing trend is to live apart together (LAT) in an ongoing intimate relationship that does not include a common home. We address the debate about whether LAT constitutes a new form of intimate relationship in a critical assessment of research on LAT relationships that applies ambivalence and concepts from the life course perspective. We conclude that among older but not younger adults, LAT relationships are generally a stable alternative to living with a partner, negotiated in the context of current social institutions and arrangements. We propose research questions that address later life living apart together as an innovative alternative intimate relationship. We encourage comparative work on the unique challenges of later life living apart together, their implications for other family ties, and their connection to social and cultural arrangements.

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Section: What Is Lat?mentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: What Is Lat?mentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Conceptual Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Conceptual Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Proposed Research Agendamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ambivalence and Living Apart Together in Later Life: A Critical Research Proposal

Connidis

Borell

Karlsson

2017

J of Marriage and Family

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Living‐Apart‐Together ( LAT ) Relationships

Benson

2015

The Encyclopedia of Adulthood and Aging

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As a result of increased life expectancy, high divorce rates, and declining marriage and remarriage rates, older adults have experienced remarkable changes in norms surrounding patterns of partnering and family formation. The family lives of older adults now demonstrate greater heterogeneity and complexity than did those of earlier cohorts. New ways of “doing family” have become more prevalent, particularly in terms of how romantic partnerships are enacted and maintained. Although cohabitation is on the rise, another form of partnering is gaining visibility in Western societies—living apart together (LAT). These relationships are often defined as committed, monogamous intimate partnerships between unmarried individuals who live in separate homes but identify themselves as a couple. This entry provides an overview of LAT relationships in older adulthood including prevalence rates, explanations as to why older adults choose to LAT, and the benefits and disadvantages of LAT in later life.

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