Living Together Before Marriage: Not So Bad After All

Some people still consider pre-marital cohabitation to be a simple trend. Perhaps in the 1960s, the half a million American couples who “lived in sin” may have agreed. But today’s figures of over 5 million annual couples choosing to live together before committing to marriage is more than a trend, it’s a social movement.

The stigma of that action originally led to worries regarding the strength of the union undoubtedly expected to follow. Over 50% of marriages ending in divorce kept Michigan divorce attorneys busy and left the nation wondering and worrying about the sanctity of marriage. Up until a few decades ago, marriage was still often the final destination in the mind of at least one partner in a cohabitational relationship. And to this day, many people outside of the partnership expect nothing less.

Of course, studies touted warnings for decades that such acts initiate the deterioration of commitment. Facts and statistics were provided, scaring countless couples worldwide and impressing the right wing conservative nation as they revamped traditional marital campaigns. However, new research sheds new light on the old conversation.

New Research on Living Together
“The Journal of Marriage and Family” indicates new evidence that the risks of cohabitational living arrangements may have been grossly overstated in regards to nationwide divorce statistics. But what does that mean? Well, the nation is still greatly controlled by conservative forces which keep traditional values under lock and key. The idea that cohabitation before commitment is a sin and promotes disloyalty as opposed to marriage, which is a permanent and unwavering structure is beat into the American public’s psyche.

However, anyone who has been married or in a long-standing committed relationship already knows it takes much more than a sheet of paper to guarantee loyalty and/or a healthy and strong commitment. Marriage takes work, not simply words. In many cases, living together builds trust and partnership qualities between a loving couple. Learning to live together before legalities are an issue can negate much of the early marital stress involved with couples who haven’t experienced the challenges of dealing with a partner's needs on a daily basis.

The truth of the matter is that age effects marital success and divorce rates much more than living arrangements do. In fact, the recent studies highlight evidence that cohabitation may have never had a serious effect on divorce rates. If you live in or around the Mt Clemens, MI area, you’re already aware that life stress and age-related behavior have more to do with the happiness of a couple than where they happen to reside. But studies help the rest of the world catch up.

Common Sense
Common sense enters the picture now. The younger each partner is during their first marriage, the quicker that marriage is likely to end in divorce. Typically young adults are uneducated past secondary school or still in college when they marry. Finances, emotional stress, and often early family planning tear the couple apart. That’s not a guarantee that all 19 to 20-something newlyweds will be in divorce court within 10-20 years, but the majority lean toward that direction. Older individuals who are financially stable, have a good education and individual careers tend to have significantly longer first marriages when they marry after 25 or 30 years of age.

Chances are the cohabitation blame was created in lieu of age studies. Religious and conservative groups grabbed hold of the claim and it stuck like glue in American cultural belief systems. But the original findings are unfounded. Marriage survival should not be based on living arrangements, but instead on the mental and emotional security of the individuals within the relationship.

The trick to any good relationship is to trust yourself and your partner. Open communication, respect and ongoing appreciation will do more for your marriage than focusing on mass study outcomes. Each person and partnership is unique. However, if you find yourself needing to start over, Michigan divorce help can easily relieve your worries and set you on a new life path.

Questions about divorce? Contact Femminineo Attorneys to get the answers and support you need.

Femminineo Attorneys
Michigan Divorce Help
110 S Main St #200
Mt Clemens, MI 48043
United States
(586) 954-9500
http://www.michigandivorcehelp.com/