Marriage and its effect on children concerning divorce have been a topic of therapeutic research for decades; however, with marriage diminishing in America, it is time to take a look at the alternates. “The proportion of Americans who are currently married has been diminishing for decades and is lower than it has been in at least half a century.”1 This is leading newer generations with cynicism toward marriage causing them to forego the sacrament and have children in a cohabitation union. The following article looks at the effects of this union on the family structure while examining the outcomes of cohabitation dissolution concerning divorce.
The Issue
With the ongoing deterioration of the traditional family in society, younger generations are turning to alternative aspects of marriage. Looking at the high levels and probability of divorce, it is causing low-income couples not to marry at all.2 This, in turn, is giving rise the cohabitation amongst the couple who still persist to have children but do not realize that the dissolution of that cohabitation is parallel to divorce. This study analyzed this parallel with four questions in mind:
“First, are cohabitation dissolution and marital dissolution associated with similar increases in depressive symptoms among parents of young children? Second, is the negative association between union dissolution and depressive symptoms exacerbated when mental health is measured earlier in time before the dissolution? Third, does the negative association between union dissolution and depressive symptoms lessen with time? Fourth, do time-variant relationship, family, and socioeconomic status variables mediate associations between union dissolution and depressive symptoms?”3
The Data
The article collected the bulk of its data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study which examined over seven thousand fathers and mothers (some married and some unmarried) between 1998 to 2000.4 “The mental health consequences of union dissolution were examined, by union type and parental gender, using the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (n = 1,998 for mothers and 1,764 for fathers).”5
The interviews and analysis were done in four waves. The first is at birth (wave 1), then in intervals at ages 1 (wave 2), 3 (wave 3), and 5 (wave 4).6 The basis for couples was marriage or cohabitation and length spent within the home of cohabitating couples.
The data showed an all-time high of nonmarital birth rates at 41% with 60% of the couple living together at the time of birth.7 This showed a remarkable majority of those unions dissolve within five years, giving it a slightly higher rate than married couples who divorce.8
Key Findings
However, due to skepticism toward marriage, more people are choosing cohabitation as a safe recourse to divorce. However, this study shows that the dissolution of said cohabitation is comparable, if not more likely to be the case. This was accompanied by the same depressive symptoms that married couples experienced before, during, and after divorce and contained the same long-term psychological effects of the children enduring it. The choice to not marry because divorce was a concern had no effect on the inevitable dissolution of their relationship despite having children. It was directly correlated to married couples having children. However, “although a high percentage of cohabiting couples separate, such breakups do not affect the divorce rate.”9
Like any union, those who do not put the kingdom of God first will have little chance of survival. We see this in marriage, but it is evident in cohabitation. God can no easier bless cohabitation than he would bless homosexual marriages. These have consequences in that children are still being born into these unions and after its dissolution, the children are still left to suffer through depression and disassociated disorders. From a Christian perspective, cohabitating should never be encouraged, and not just from a sin perspective but clearly, the scientific evidence shows it yields not better results than of the couple married beforehand.
Bibliography
Balswick, Jack O., and Judith K. Balswick. The Family: a Christian Perspective on the Contemporary Home. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2014.
Dush, Claire M. Kamp. “Marital and Cohabitation Dissolution and Parental Depressive Symptoms in Fragile Families.” Journal of Marriage and Family 75, no. 1 (2013): 91–109.
“Marriage and Divorce.” American Psychological Association. American Psychological Association, 2018. Last modified 2018. Accessed June 7, 2019. https://www.apa.org/topics/divorce/.
Rosentiel, Tom. “The States of Marriage and Divorce.” Pew Research Center. Pew Research Center, October 15, 2009. Last modified October 15, 2009. Accessed June 7, 2019. https://www.pewresearch.org/2009/10/15/the-states-of-marriage-and-divorce/.
Footnotes:
1 Tom Rosentiel, “The States of Marriage and Divorce,” Pew Research Center (Pew Research Center, October 15, 2009), last modified October 15, 2009, accessed June 7, 2019, https://www.pewresearch.org/2009/10/15/the-states-of-marriage-and-divorce/.
2 Claire M. Kamp Dush, “Marital and Cohabitation Dissolution and Parental Depressive Symptoms in Fragile Families,” Journal of Marriage and Family 75, no. 1 (2013): 91-109.
3 Claire M. Kamp Dush, “Marital and Cohabitation Dissolution and Parental Depressive Symptoms in Fragile Families,” Journal of Marriage and Family 75, no. 1 (2013): 91-109.
4 Ibid.
5 Ibid.
6 Ibid.
7 Ibid.
8 “Marriage and Divorce,” American Psychological Association (American Psychological Association, 2018), last modified 2018, accessed June 7, 2019, https://www.apa.org/topics/divorce/.
9 Jack O. Balswick and Judith K. Balswick, Family, the: A Christian Perspective on the Contemporary Home (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2014).
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