The different faces of cohabiting unions in the new millennium

Absztrakt

The rise of unmarried cohabitation in the late 20^th century has increased the diversity of couples’ family situations and partnership trajectories, calling for a differentiated approach to this partnership form. This is one of the first studies to examine how the typology of cohabitation in a society has changed over time, using both subjective and objective criteria, and recognising the different role of cohabitation at different stages of family life, including situations characteristic of later life.

Based on data from the first (2001) and fifth (2016/17) waves of the Hungarian Generations and Gender Survey, this analysis aims to establish an empirical typology of the cohabiting population. Family trajectories, relationship commitment and attitudes towards marriage were included as grouping criteria in the latent class analysis. Four types were identified: trial marriage, alternative to marriage, stepfamily and post-marital cohabitation. Contrary to the international literature, we did not find any groups who do not marry because of their anti-marriage attitudes or poor financial situation, or who see their cohabitation as an alternative to being single. The findings are discussed in the light of theories of the changing meaning of unmarried cohabitation.