Sliding Versus Deciding: Inertia and the Premarital Cohabitation Effect*

doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2006.00418.x

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Wiley InterScience

Family Relations

Volume 55 Issue 4, Pages 499 - 509

Published Online: 7 Sep 2006

Published on behalf of the National Council on Family Relations

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Sliding Versus Deciding: Inertia and the Premarital Cohabitation Effect*

Scott M. Stanley**, Galena Kline Rhoades**, Howard J. Markman**

Correspondence to **Scott M. Stanley is a Research Professor at the Center for Marital and Family Studies, Department of Psychology, University of Denver, 2155 S Race Street, Denver, CO 80208 (sstanley82@aol.com). Galena Kline Rhoades is a Research Associate at the Center for Marital and Family Studies, Department of Psychology, University of Denver, 2155 S Race Street, Denver, CO 80208 (gakline@du.edu). Howard J. Markman is a Professor at the Center for Marital and Family Studies, Department of Psychology, University of Denver, 2155 S Race Street, Denver, CO 80208 (hmarkman@du.edu).

*Support for this research and for preparation of this article was provided in part by a grant (5-RO1-MH35525-12) from the National Institute of Mental Health, Division of Services and Intervention Research, Adult and Geriatric Treatment and Prevention Branch (awarded to H.J.M., S.M.S., and Lydia M. Prado).

KEYWORDS

cohabitation • commitment • divorce • marriage • relationships

ABSTRACT

Abstract: Premarital cohabitation has consistently been found to be associated with increased risk for divorce and marital distress in the United States. Two explanations for this "cohabitation effect" are discussed: selection and experience. We present an empirically based view of how the experience of cohabitation may increase risk for relationship distress or divorce for some people beyond what is accounted for by selection. Specifically, using a commitment framework, we suggest that some couples who otherwise would not have married end up married because of the inertia of cohabitation. We discuss practice implications for relationship transitions that are characterized more by sliding than deciding, especially where a transition such as cohabitation increases inertia to remain in a relationship regardless of quality or fit.

Received: 21 June 2006; Accepted: 28 August 2006;

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

10.1111/j.1741-3729.2006.00418.x About DOI