![]() For now, it seems clear that for many couples cohabitation is not a replacement of marriage even though as we know marriage is on a rapid decline. This article goes on to talk about the high rate of divorce among these couples, but I will get into those statistics a little later. A 2019 article on The Institute for Family Studies reveals that as of 2015, 67% of married couples reported cohabitating before marriage ( Stanley and Rhoades, 2018). From their perspective, their years of cohabitation were the first step towards marriage and a bigger commitment. It’s another world when one looks at married couples. B) Cohabitation as a Step Towards Marriage Cumulatively, this information shows that cohabitation is often the choice of adults who have given marriage “a shot.” Thus, to answer the question of marriage being replaced, we could look at people approaching middle-age who have definitely decided against marriage from experiencing it. Also, consider the fact that 40-50% of marriages are ending in divorce according to the American Psychological Association and that the divorce rate for people in their fifties and older has doubled since the 90s ( Stepler, 2017). The report states, “Since 2007, the number of cohabiting adults ages 50 and older grew by 75%.” In fact, the report shows that “Most cohabiters ages 50 and older have previously been married, including a majority who are divorced (55%).” I think these statistics are revealing. Cohabitation is replacing marriage most dramatically among middle-aged couples who have decided against marriage after experiencing a divorce. When I think of cohabitation, I picture two 20-something individuals head over heels in love deciding to move in together after college. Cohabitation: Replacing Marriage or the First Step toward Marriage? A) Response to Failed MarriageĪ report from 2017 by Pew shows cohabitation rates up 29% since 2007 ( Stepler, 2017). Finally, I’d like to comment on what I think the Church actually envisions for dating and how cohabitation misses the mark once again. ![]() In this section, I’ll address two cohabitation myths. Then, I’d like to ask whether cohabitation is healthy for relationships. I’m going to answer this question in three parts, first by looking at people who are choosing cohabitation after a divorce, by looking at married couples, and, finally, by looking at younger people. First, I’d like to ask whether cohabitation has become a replacement for marriage or simply the most common step before marriage. In this piece, I am going to tackle the subject of cohabitation in the various forms of its practice.
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