Parent-Child Coresidence and Experiences of Romantic Relationships: Evidence from Young Adults in Taiwan

Abstract

: Research on the consequences of young adults’ extended coresidence with parents indicates that coresident singles marry later, with a recent study specifically attributing this pattern to these singles’ lesser engagement in romantic relationships. Nevertheless, we do not know exactly how coresident singles’ relationship dynamics differ from those of individuals living independently and whether the former’s relationships are qualitatively different. Using full relationship history data from the Taiwan Educational Panel Survey and Beyond, we examine how coresidence is associated with the paces of entering and exiting romantic relationships among young Taiwanese. We also investigate whether coresident singles exhibit different partner selection patterns from those living apart from parents, based on the argument that the former may be less needy for intimate ties and under greater parental control. Results from random-effects event history models indicate that young Taiwanese who reside in the parental home take longer to form romantic relationships, while ending relationships faster than those living independently. Once entering relationships, coresident singles have lower odds of becoming highly committed to their relationships. Furthermore, men living with parents are more likely than other men to form relationships that are homogamous in age and, to some extent, family economic background. Meanwhile, coresident women are more likely to enter ethnically homogamous relationships than other women. Altogether, the results suggest that the practice of extended coresidence affects both the quantity and the quality of intimate relationships for young people, which has implications for the marriage tempo and patterns in society.