New research released by the Council on Contemporary Families suggests that most people have misunderstood the role cohabitation plays in the divorce rate because they have been asking the wrong questions of the data. Rather than comparing those who cohabit before marriage to those who do not, researchers should be considering whether or not cohabitation is actually a significant factor in the longevity of a marital relationship. Initial findings suggest that “the age when couples start cohabiting – whether married or unmarried – correlates with divorce rates.” More specifically, the people who started living together (whether married or unmarried at the time) at age 22 or younger were the most likely to later part ways.
So What?
One statistic captured my attention more than any other in this piece: “Over the past 50 years, the number of couples who live together before marriage has increased some 900 percent.” Given both the length of time growth has occurred and the rate of this growth, it seems reasonable to assume that cohabitation before marriage will continue to increase in the near term future.
- What can those interested in helping empower healthy lasting marriages (including local churches) learn from this new research?
- What is your initial reaction to the data that suggests whether or not one cohabits is the wrong question to ask when it comes to determining how likely a marriage is to last?