Love. Break up. Repeat: The prevalence and stability of serial cohabitation among West German women and men born in the early 1970s

Abstract

BACKGROUNDSerial cohabitation is of growing scientific relevance as more and more people experience the formation and dissolution of multiple unmarried cohabitations. OBJECTIVEKnowledge on the prevalence and stability of serial cohabitation outside the US context is limited.We provide unprecedented estimates on serial cohabitation on a West German cohort born in the early 1970s. METHODSWe analyze 1,461 women and 1,121 men from the Pairfam study aged between 35 and 45 from birth cohorts 1971, 1972, and 1973 in West Germany who ever resided with a partner.Educational differences by cohabitation order are studied using one-way ANOVA.In multiple decrement life table analysis, we examine the stability of cohabitation of different order during the first five years of relationship.Two possible exit routes from unmarried cohabitation are analyzed: union dissolution and marriage. RESULTSSerial cohabitation is not related to educational attainment.The vast majority of cohabiting unions end within five years, more frequently by marriage than dissolution.Among three-and higher-order cohabitations marriage is less frequent.They do not differ from lower-order cohabiting unions regarding dissolution incidence.

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