What did earlier research suggest about cohabitation before marriage?

What did earlier research suggest about cohabitation before marriage?

• A. It was linked to higher marital quality and a greater likelihood of marriage.
• B. It was linked to lower marital quality and a greater risk of divorce.
• C. It had no effect on marital outcomes.
• D. It guaranteed lifelong compatibility.

Answer: (B)

Early research on premarital cohabitation showed a pattern where living together before marriage was linked to lower marital quality and a greater risk of divorce. This finding was thought to arise from selection effects—people who choose to cohabit before marriage often differ in their attitudes toward commitment, traditional expectations of marriage, or tolerance for divorce compared with those who don’t cohabit. Additionally, the dynamics of cohabiting relationships, such as moving into a marriage out of convenience or inertia rather than clear mutual readiness, could contribute to less stable marital trajectories. It’s important to note that later studies have added nuance, showing that some of these associations lessen when controlling for factors like age, education, and religiosity, but the general takeaway from earlier research is that premarital cohabitation was not associated with higher marital quality and was linked to a higher risk of divorce.

Early research on premarital cohabitation showed a pattern where living together before marriage was linked to lower marital quality and a greater risk of divorce. This finding was thought to arise from selection effects—people who choose to cohabit before marriage often differ in their attitudes toward commitment, traditional expectations of marriage, or tolerance for divorce compared with those who don’t cohabit. Additionally, the dynamics of cohabiting relationships, such as moving into a marriage out of convenience or inertia rather than clear mutual readiness, could contribute to less stable marital trajectories. It’s important to note that later studies have added nuance, showing that some of these associations lessen when controlling for factors like age, education, and religiosity, but the general takeaway from earlier research is that premarital cohabitation was not associated with higher marital quality and was linked to a higher risk of divorce.