A new report by family scholars Scott Stanley and Galena Rhoads presents data showing that cohabitation before marriage significantly increases the likelihood of divorce. The study of 1,621 U.S. couples who married between 2010 and 2019 found that 34 percent of those who cohabited before engagement or marriage ended up divorcing, compared to 23 percent among those who lived together only after being engaged or married.
The researchers argue that cohabitation itself plays a decisive role in the increased odds of divorce, as it changes attitudes towards marriage and produces inertia that keeps couples together even if the relationship is not going well. The study also highlights the risks of serial cohabitation, with higher dissolution rates observed among those who had lived with multiple partners before marriage. The scholars advise caution and suggest that couples should take time to plan and decide on relationship steps and seek relationship education programs for support.
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