1. Objectifs

Intentions :
In this chapter, the authors compare the impact of cohabitation on the family life course in contemporary North America.

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
Données documentaires diverses

Type de traitement des données :
Réflexion critique

3. Résumé

«Clearly, cohabitation is still evolving, showing signs of growing stability among couples with children as this family type becomes more widespread and socially accepted. In other words, the importance of cohabitation in predicting family disruption seems to be changing over time as society progresses through the stages of the ‘partnership transition’ [...]. In Quebec, it is now the decision to marry, whether at the start of the relationship or later on. That reduces the risk of family disruption. This suggests that the importance of the ‘selection’ hypothesis in explaining the association observed between cohabitation and union instability is declining while that of the experience of cohabitation itself is increasing. It also suggests that it may be time to change the formulation of the question at the basis of most research on cohabitation: instead asking who cohabits and why, it may be more appropriate to try and understand who married and why they continue to do so.» (p. 114-115)