Pros and Cons of Cohabitation and Marriage
CJ Fraze
Katherine Hanna
Tonya Johnson
Charity Wallace

Financial and Legalities

• Less likely to be financially tied than married couples
• Live together but separate
• Cohabiters = finances = engaged couples = married partners
• Cohabitating couples have fewer benefits than married couples
• Cohabitation = less financial crisis

Happiness/Education

• Less Happiness for Cohabiters v. Married Overall
• Social approval
• Cohabiters are college students and parents
• Higher education = Higher pay

Cohabitation Statistics

• Cohabitation % Marriage
• 2/3 Americans Cohabitate
• Commitment
• Domestic Violence/Depression/Poverty
• Divorce & Serial Cohabitation

De-linking Marriage & Cohabitation/Age and Desolution

• Fewer couples engaged before cohabitation & fewer getting engaged
• First and third cohabitations have the same chances of dissolution
• Age matters

Conclusion

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Lamanna, M. A., & Riedmann, A. (2012). Marriages, families, & relationships: Making choices in a diverse society (11th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Larson, J. H. (2001, January). The Verdict on Cohabitation vs. Marriage. Retrieved September 20, 2014, from http://marriageandfamilies.byu.edu/issues/2001/January/cohabitation.aspx
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