As a measure of construct validity, participants were asked to rank order four options for why they started cohabiting: 1) I wanted to test out our relationship before marriage, 2) I wanted to spend more time with my partner, 3) It made the most sense financially, and 4) I don’t believe in the institution of marriage.
If a desire to test one’s relationship is reflective of significant personal or relationship problems, it may important to help couples address the underlying issues before they begin cohabiting, especially because the dissolution of cohabiting unions has negative consequences, at least economically and especially for women (Avellar & Smock, 2005).
More generally, given that many couples slide into cohabitation (Manning & Smock, 2005), it may be helpful to encourage partners to discuss their reasons for wanting to live together and to make sure that their expectations about the future of their relationships are clearly understood. Acknowledgments
Manuel and Rosa have been married for nearly 30 years. Their youngest child left home six months ago. If they are typical, the quality of their marriage should:
Randy moved across the country to advance his career. Though he moved alone, he soon developed a group of coworkers and friends who became like a
Hal and Darcy endured many stressful years, but over time , their marriage rebounded and improved. Research indicates that:
Davetta is very organized and self-disciplined. She conforms easily to standards set for her performance at work. She is high on which of the Big Five traits?
Couples’ Reasons for Cohabitation: Associations with Individual Well-Being and Relationship Quality
Many young adults believe cohabitation is a good way to test their relationships prior to marriage (Axinn & Thornton, 1992; Johnson et al., 2002) and such beliefs about cohabitation likely influence individuals’ choices about cohabitation. However, little research has examined individuals’ own reasons for cohabiting and how those reasons may be related to how they describe themselves and their relationships.
Manuel and Rosa have been married for nearly 30 years. Their youngest child left home six months ago. If they are typical, the quality of their marriage should:
Randy moved across the country to advance his career. Though he moved alone, he soon developed a group of coworkers and friends who became like a
Hal and Darcy endured many stressful years, but over time , their marriage rebounded and improved. Research indicates that:
Davetta is very organized and self-disciplined. She conforms easily to standards set for her performance at work. She is high on which of the Big Five traits?