July-August 2015 – The American College of Pediatricians has released data that disprove some common assumptions about couples living together before marriage:
Claim 1: Cohabitation will assure stronger marriages. Fact: Numbers indicate that cohabitation increases the risk of divorce by 50%.
Claim 2: Cohabitation is a fiscal boon because couples pool their individual resources. Fact: In reality, it is a financial risk, and it lacks the financial benefits of marriage. Marriage and Religion Research Institute reveals that cohabiters increase their net worth less than all other family structures.
Claim 3: Cohabitation is good because it lets a couple spend more time together. Fact: ACP says it leads to increased negative communication, to men spending more time on personal leisure, and to the couple spending less time together.
