According to the 2000 Census, about 1.2 million persons over age 50 are currently cohabiting (Brown, Bulanda, & Lee, 2005). There are serious advantages to living together that is why people are attracted to it (Kramer, 2019). The reasons why couples should live together before the marriage because it is the humanistic approach, people live happier and it allows understanding partners easily.
Firstly, live-in relationships are a humanistic approach. The Internet is a tool for students to get the latest information around the world. According to Aditya Singh and Mohit Chibbar in their article ‘Live-in relationships: An ethical and a moral dilemma?’ they state “A live-in relationship often regarded a human rightist and an individualistic approach” (Singh & Chhibber, 2015, p. 77). Although, living in relationships does not last long. Susan L. Brown and Alan Booth explain in their article ‘ Cohabitation versus Marriage: A Comparison of Relationship Quality’ that living in relationships lasts approximately 2 years. (Brown & Booth, 1996). However, living in relationship acts are a major source of marriage stabilizing. Steffen Reinhold summarizes in his article’ Reassessing the link between premarital cohabitation and marital instability’ that living in a relationship increases a higher chance of marriage stabilizing (Reinhold, 2010). Living in relationships is the humanistic approach and results in a stable marriage.
Secondly, a live-in relationship results in a happier marriage. According to S.L. Brown in his article ‘ Relationship quality dynamics of cohabiting unions.’ he explains that living in relationships is more stable, has quality and partners have a higher rate of satisfaction (Brown S. , 2003). Although a child born while the live-in relationship is treated differently. Sonali Abhang in the article ‘ Judicial Approach to “Live-In-Relationship‟ In India-Its Impact on Other Related Statutes’ explains that a child born in living in a relationship is not only treated badly but also cannot claim rights in ancestral property (Abhang, 2018). However, living in relationships offer greater flexibility than formal marriage. The increased labor force participation of women has generated a higher level of demand for the greater flexibility offered by cohabitation unions relative to formal marriage. (Waters & Ressler, 1995, p. 592) and living in relationships helps to understand partners in a better way. According to Jillian Kramer in her article ‘5 Undeniable Benefits of Living Together Before You Tie the Knot ‘ she states that living in relationships helps to understand habits of partners and result in a happy marriage (Kramer, 2019).
Similarly, living in a Relationship allows understanding of partners. According to Peterman D, C. Ridley. and A. Avery in their article they explain that living in a relationship works as a training period for marriage (Ridley, Peterman, & Avery, 1978). Although there is low marital satisfaction in people who marry after living in a relationship. According to A. DeMaris and G.R. Leslie in their article’ Cohabitation with the Future Spouse: Its Influence upon Marital Satisfaction and Communication ‘that people in living in the relationship have low marital communication and satisfaction (DeMaris & Leslie, 1984). However, The cohabitors are more stable then marrieds, widowed, and never marrieds. About 41% of cohabitors are employed full-time, which is significantly higher than the proportions employed full-time among marrieds, widowed, and never marrieds (Brown, Bulanda, & Lee, 2005, p. S24). People who are in living in a relationship are happier while in the relationship and after marriage too.
Hence, couples should live together before marriage because it is a humanistic approach, people live happier and it allows understanding partners easily. Living in relationships is the most humanistic approach because they are stable and helps to understand each other. It also results in happy marriage life and understands the partner in a better way.
References
Abhang, S. (2018, 28-38). Judicial Approach to “Live-In-Relationship‟ In India-Its Impact on Other Related Statutes. IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS), 19(12), 28-38.
Brown, S. (2003). Relationship quality dynamics of cohabiting unions. Journal of Family Issues, 24(5), 583–601.
Brown, S., & Booth, A. (1996). Cohabitation versus Marriage: A Comparison of Relationship Quality. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 58(3), 668.
Brown, S., Bulanda, J., & Lee, G. (2005). The Significance of Nonmarital Cohabitation: Marital Status and Mental Health Benefits Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 60(1), S21-S29.
DeMaris, A., & Leslie, G. (1984). Cohabitation with the Future Spouse: Its Influence upon Marital Satisfaction and Communication. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 46(1), 77.
Kramer, J. (2019, Nov 21). 5 Undeniable Benefits of Living Together Before You Tie the Knot. Retrieved from Brides: https://www.brides.com/story/benefits-to-living-together-before-marriage
Reinhold, S. (2010). Reassessing the link between premarital cohabitation and marital instability. Demography, 47(3), 719–733.
Ridley, C., Peterman, D., & Avery, A. (1978). Cohabitation: Does It Make for a Better Marriage? The Family Coordinator, 27(2), 129-136 .
Singh, A., & Chhibber, M. (2015). Live-in relationships: An ethical and a moral dilemma? International Journal of Applied Research, 1(8), 74-77.
Waters, M., & Ressler, R. (1995). The Economics of Cohabitation. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 195-206.
