Attitudes toward and Occurrence of Cohabitation without Marriage

Abstract

Since 1966, the marriage rate has decreased enormously in Sweden and the rate of cohabitation without marriage has increased more than the decrease in the marriage rate. Thus, the total number of cohabiting dyads (married and unmarried) has increased. This means that the Swedes are familiar with both the term and the concept of unmarried cohabitation. Interview data from a representative sample of Swedes is presented in this paper. The questions discussed deal with opinions of the respondents regarding how to divide the property in case of divorce/separation in three types of couple relationships: long-lasting marriages; short-lasting marriages; and short-lasting unmarried cohabitations. The results suggest that the opinion among the Swedes is that there is a higher commitment and a higher responsibility among those having been married for a long time than among those having been married for a short time. They also show an opinion ofa higher degree ofcommitment and responsibility among those having been marriedfor five years than among those having been living together out ofwedlockforfive years. These data and others point toward the existence of a renewed or perhaps a new courtship and marriage pattern.