Title

Long-Term Cohabitation among Unwed Parents: Determinants and Consequences for Children

Author(s)

Ryan Heath Bogle Ryan Heath Bogle (Bowling Green State University)

Abstract

Though a great deal of prior research has examined the stability of cohabiting unions and child wellbeing in cohabiting unions, little research has attempted to integrate these two concepts. Using 4 waves of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, I examine the determinants of long-term cohabitation among a recent group of unwed parents, and the consequences of different stable unions (marriage and cohabitation) for child wellbeing. Results indicate that relationship quality is the key determinant to both long-term cohabitation and marriage among unwed parents. Moreover, there are only slight negative implications for children raised in longterm two-biological-parent cohabiting relative to stable two biological married parent families. It appears that long-term cohabitation presents a viable family structure for children.

Creation Date

2012-09

Section URL ID

CRCW

Paper Number

WP12-12-FF.pdf

URL

https://fragilefamilies.princeton.edu/sites/fragilefamilies/files/wp12-12-ff.pdf

File Function

Jel

D190, H310, I000, J130, J120

Keyword(s)

marriage, unions, child wellbeing, cohabitation, unwed parents

Suppress

false

Series

8