Marriage and cohabitation

In an era when half of marriages end in divorce, cohabitation has become more commonplace and those who do get married are doing so at an older age. So why do people marry when they do? And why do some couples choose to cohabit? A team of expert family sociologists examines these timely questions in Marriage and Cohabitation, the result of their research over the last decade on the issue of union formation.Situating their argument in the context of the Western world's 500-year history of marriage, the authors reveal what factors encourage marriage and cohabitat

In an era when half of marriages end in divorce, cohabitation has become more commonplace and those who do get married are doing so at an older age. So why do people marry when they do? And why do some couples choose to cohabit? A team of expert family sociologists examines these timely questions in Marriage and Cohabitation, the result of their research over the last decade on the issue of union formation.Situating their argument in the context of the Western world's 500-year history of marriage, the authors reveal what factors encourage marriage and cohabitation in a contemporary society whe

Introduction -- Historical perspectives on marriage -- Comparing marriage, cohabitation, and being single -- Entering marital and cohabiting unions -- Influence of parental youth factors before birth of study child -- Influence of parental factors during childhood and adolescence of the children -- The courtship process and union formation -- Religious affiliation and commitment -- The influence of attitudes, values, and beliefs -- Educational influences -- Work, earnings potential, and career aspiration -- Integration and summary of effects -- Conclusions