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Love. Break up. Repeat: The prevalence and stability of serial cohabitation among West German women and men born in the early 1970s

Author

Listed:
  • Nicole Hiekel

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Demografische Forschung)

  • Barbara Elisabeth Fulda

    (Technische Universität Chemnitz)

Abstract

Background: Serial cohabitation is of growing scientific relevance as more and more people experience the formation and dissolution of multiple unmarried cohabitations. Objective: Knowledge on the prevalence and stability of serial cohabitation outside the US context is limited. We provide unprecedented estimates on serial cohabitation on a West German cohort born in the early 1970s. Methods: We analyze 1,461 women and 1,121 men from the Pairfam study aged between 35 and 45 from birth cohorts 1971, 1972, and 1973 in West Germany who ever resided with a partner. Educational differences by cohabitation order are studied using one-way ANOVA. In multiple decrement life table analysis, we examine the stability of cohabitation of different order during the first five years of relationship. Two possible exit routes from unmarried cohabitation are analyzed: union dissolution and marriage. Results: Serial cohabitation is not related to educational attainment. The vast majority of cohabiting unions end within five years, more frequently by marriage than dissolution. Among three-and higher-order cohabitations marriage is less frequent. They do not differ from lower-order cohabiting unions regarding dissolution incidence. Conclusions: Serial cohabitation is a minority experience in the cohort studied. Unlike in the United States, serial cohabitation is equally prevalent in all educational strata. Cohabitation is a stepping-stone towards marriage for the vast majority of cohabiters. Contribution: Having cohabited more than once does not imply a rejection of the institution of marriage or reflect unwillingness to enter potentially stable and committed unions. Most cohabiters opt for marriage although it takes two turns in some cases.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicole Hiekel & Barbara Elisabeth Fulda, 2018. "Love. Break up. Repeat: The prevalence and stability of serial cohabitation among West German women and men born in the early 1970s," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 39(30), pages 855-870.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:39:y:2018:i:30
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2018.39.30
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sheela Kennedy & Steven Ruggles, 2014. "Breaking Up Is Hard to Count: The Rise of Divorce in the United States, 1980–2010," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 51(2), pages 587-598, April.
    2. Marika Jalovaara & Anette Fasang, 2017. "From never partnered to serial cohabitors: Union trajectories to childlessness," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 36(55), pages 1703-1720.
    3. Gunnar Andersson & Turid Noack & Ane Seierstad & Harald Weedon-Fekjær, 2006. "The demographics of same-sex marriages in Norway and Sweden," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 43(1), pages 79-98, February.
    4. Jalovaara, Marika & Fasang, Anette Eva, 2017. "From never partnered to serial cohabitors: union trajectories to childlessness," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 36, pages 1703-1720.
    5. Erzsébet Bukodi, 2012. "Serial Cohabitation among Men in Britain: Does Work History Matter? [Cohabitations successives des hommes en Angleterre : l’histoire professionnelle joue-t-elle un rôle ?]," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 28(4), pages 441-466, November.
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    1. repec:osf:socarx:4ewv3_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Carollo, Angela & Putter, Hein & Eilers, Paul H. C. & Gampe, Jutta, 2023. "Event history analysis with two time scales. An application to transitions out of cohabitation," SocArXiv 4ewv3, Center for Open Science.
    3. Linus Andersson, 2023. "The Role of Gender Differences in Partnering and Re-partnering for Gender Differences in Completed Fertility," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(2), pages 1-28, April.
    4. Valeria Ferraretto & Nicole Hiekel & Agnese Vitali, 2025. "Non-cohabiting Partners’ Economic Characteristics and the Transition to Living Together in Germany: A Couple-Level Perspective," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 41(1), pages 1-28, December.

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    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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