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Transitions Into and Out of Cohabitation in Later Life
Susan L Brown1, Jennifer Roebuck Bulanda, Gary R Lee
1Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403.
Journal of Marriage and the Family
|December 11, 2012
Summary
Cohabitation among adults over 50 is increasing, often serving as a stable, long-term alternative to marriage rather than a precursor to it.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sociology
- Demography
Background:
- Cohabitation among adults over 50 is rapidly increasing.
- Previous research has described older cohabitors but not transitions into or out of these unions.
- A life course perspective is needed to understand later-life union behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate union formation and dissolution among older adults.
- To examine transitions into and out of cohabitation for individuals aged 50 and older.
- To understand cohabitation as a distinct relationship type in later life.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2006).
- Employed discrete-time event-history models.
- Analyzed union formation among unmarried older adults and transitions among cohabiting older adults.
Main Results:
- Older adults forming unions were equally likely to cohabit or marry.
- Older adult cohabiting unions demonstrated significant stability.
- Cohabitation was unlikely to transition into marriage or separation.
Conclusions:
- Cohabitation functions as a stable, long-term alternative to marriage for older adults.
- Later-life cohabitation represents a distinct relationship pathway.
- Understanding these transitions is crucial for later-life relationship research.
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