Cohabitation and Marriage: How are They Related?

Abstract

In Canada today, most couples who marry have already lived together as husband and wife. Many couples, most especially in Quebec, now choose to cohabit and forego marriage entirely. These trends pose interesting questions: Is marriage being replaced by cohabitation? Who chooses to cohabit and what distinguishes them from those who marry? Does cohabitation serve as a trial marriage and do couples who have had the experience of living together stay together? What are the advantages and disadvantages of cohabitation and marriage from the points of view of young adults, older adults, children and society at large? These are some of the questions that Dr. Ambert addresses in her examination of what current research teaches us about the state of our unions.