The idea of premarital cohabitation might be seen at first as a factor that is supposed to strengthen the marriage. Indeed, after having lived with each other for a sufficient amount of time, a couple becomes resilient to issues that would cause a major disagreement and, eventually, a divorce, preferring peaceful negotiation instead. Though premarital cohabitation used to be linked to an increased probability to a divorce. recent studies confirm that cohabitation enhances the power of a marriage (Kuperberg par. 5; Graf par. 2; Kuperberg par. 3). Admittedly, one of the views points to the higher risks of future divorce among cohabitants (Perelli‐Harris et al. 304). However, the specified findings are further clarified by Fetters, who explains that, for cohabitants, divorce risks are lowered at the first year, yet increase after five years of marriage (par. 1). Due to the shared experiences and increased resilience, cohabitation can become the practice that makes ones’ marriage stronger.
Personally, I firmly believe that the practice of cohabitation affects the future marriage prospects, as well as the chances of staying together afterward, exceptionally positively. Due to a rise in trust levels among partners, as well as the development of resilience toward interpersonal issues and building the ability to negotiate couples engaging in premarital cohabitation are expected to remain together. Therefore, after the marriage, their divorce rates are bound to be lowered significantly. Though it might sound counterintuitive to some, the practice of cohabitation does, in fact, produce a positive effect on marriage.
As stated above, the phenomenon of divorce is enhanced not only by the very presence of cohabitation but also by the point of marriage at which a couple currently is. Specifically, earlier stages of marriage are under greater threat than later ones (Fetters par. 1). Therefore, the overall risk of a divorce remains present no matter what practice the couple engaged in prior to marriage, yet it is minimized as long as the wife and the husband take crucial lessons from it.
Works Cited
Fetters, Ashley. “So Is Living Together Before Marriage Linked to Divorce or What?” The Atlantic, 2018. Web.
Graf, Nikki. “Key Findings on Marriage and Cohabitation in the U.S.” Per Research Center, 2019. Web.
Kuperberg, Arielle. “Does Premarital Cohabitation Raise Your Risk of Divorce?” Council on Contemporary Families, n.d. Web.
Perelli‐Harris, Brienne, et al. “The Rise in Divorce and Cohabitation: Is There a Link?.” Population and Development Preview, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 303-329. doi:10.1111/padr.12063