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Cohabitation

What exactly does cohabitation mean? According to Dictionary.com, cohabitation means to live together as husband and wife, usually without legal or religious sanction. There are many different reasons why couples choose to cohabitate. Those reasons range anywhere from financial situations, constant companionship, and as many believe, simply getting to know each other better. Couples spend most nights together and do not want to pay two rent payments, so moving in together seems financially fit. While cohabitation is popular among the younger generations, cohabitation does not offer the same commitment and benefits as a traditional marriage.
Between the years of 1960 and 2000, the number of unmarried couples who cohabitate has increased by over 12 hundred per cent. (Colson, 2002-2005) Cohabitating before marriage has become very popular within the last five or more decades.
5 Million
3 Million
1.5 Million
.5 Million
1960-1970 1980 1990 2000

Only a half a million couples were cohabitating in the 1960’s and 1970’s. This number has grown to five million by the year 2000.
There are many short-term and long-term effects due to cohabitating before marriage. Most couples believe that the short-term effects can be beneficial. For example, having two incomes versus only one. Some couples, who decide to cohabitate, enjoy having the constant companionship.
The long-term effects of cohabitating can be very damaging to a relationship. Cohabitating before marriage can result in poor communication between partners and an increase for depression. Peter C. Kleponis, a licensed clinical therapist, states, “Annual rates of depression among cohabitating couples are more than three times what they are
among married couples”. (Kleponis, 2007) Oftentimes the longer a couple cohabitates, the poorer communication becomes, and the lack of commitment increases.
Cohabitating does not only affect the couple, but it affects children of all ages as well....