Abstract
Despite a growing body of research on later-life relationships, there are still only a limited number of explorative longitudinal studies that have investigated the factors responsible for the establishment of either a Living-Apart-Together (LAT) arrangement or a cohabitation relationship. Two waves of data collection by the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (2014/2015-2017; N= 12,155; Mage=71.96; 76.3% women) were analyzed with a special focus on family, dwelling, and financial constraints. Those who were male, younger, and had more children were more likely to enter into a LAT arrangement or a cohabitation relationship than to remain unpartnered. More rooms and fewer years spent in the accommodation raised the odds to partner. LAT persons were slightly older than those in cohabitation relationships. No other factors influenced the form of living arrangement, which indicates that factors other than financial constraints and family responsibilities affect later-life LAT or cohabitation relationship formation.
Highlights
In Europe, the number of people aged 50 and over, as a proportion of the total population, is increasing due to declining fertility rates and rising life expectancy (Eurostat 2017a)
We propose to test the assumptions that (1) older people who enter into a LAT relationship are more likely to experience resource constraints before partnering than those who decide to cohabit with their partners, and (2) those who partner in either relationship form are less likely to report resource constraints than persons who remain unpartnered in later life
This study used SHARE data to examine whether the outcomes of later-life relationship formation may be explained by family, bonds to dwelling place, resource constraints, and educational level as a proxy for openness to an alternative living arrangement, such as a LAT relationship
Summary
In Europe, the number of people aged 50 and over, as a proportion of the total population, is increasing due to declining fertility rates and rising life expectancy (Eurostat 2017a). There is a noteworthy proportion of people who enter later life without a partner and consider partnering in order to avoid the risk of emotional loneliness Additional funding came from the German Ministry of Education and Research, the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science, the US National Institute on Aging (U01_AG09740-13S2, P01_AG005842, P01_AG08291, P30_AG12815, R21_AG025169, Y1-AG-4553-01, IAG_BSR06-11, OGHA_04-064, HHSN271201300071C), and various national funding sources, which are gratefully acknowledged (see www.share-project.org)
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