Many changes in family structure in the U.S. have occurred over the past few decades. A recent article in Journal of Marriage and Family explores a demographic trend surrounding family formation ? unmarried cohabitation and childbearing.
The author investigated how partners in 44 unmarried couples view their relationships and how the presence of children influences the meanings they attach to their partnerships. Although most cohabiting parents live together in response to a pregnancy, these partners do not believe they should stay in a relationship because of shared children. Cohabitation instead is viewed as a practical response to parenthood that allows them to share expenses and responsibilities, yet avoid the greater expectations of commitment, relationship quality and the more traditional family roles they associate with marriage.
Other research has identified disadvantages to cohabitation. These relationships often do not last as long as those of married parents, which may place children at a higher risk for poverty and for multiple transitions in family structure. For these reasons, some have raised concerns about how life in a cohabiting family affects the well-being of children.