This dissertation explores two aspects of cohabiting and married relationships that have received little attention: financial arrangements and kin relations. Both topics involve investments and exchanges, either between partners or between partners and family members. It was expected that cohabiting partners would be less likely than married couples to make investments in, and exchanges with, one's partner and one's partner's family pertaining to financial arrangements and family relationships. Unequal levels of risk and chances for reciprocity stemming from legal and normative differences, variations in relationship stability and expectations for permanence, and ideological differences between these couples underlie these expectations.
I collected data from both partners of 30 opposite-sex cohabiting, and 30 married couples between the ages of 18 and 59 who had been living together or married for a minimum of three months and a maximum of ten years. Married couples were also matched to cohabiting couples on the basis of the female partner's employment status and year-round presence of children in the household. Participants first completed a mail survey and then participated in a telephone interview.
Numerous outcomes were examined. Results found few significant differences between cohabiting and married couples. Cohabiting couples are less likely than married couples to have any joint bank accounts and less likely to have only joint accounts. Regarding kin relations, cohabiting women were found to have less interaction than married women with their partner's parents, and cohabiting men were found to be less likely than married men to have given support (e.g., money, advice, help) to their partner's parents. No other significant differences in relationship status were found.
The findings suggest that the day-to-day lives of cohabiting and married couples are fairly similar with regard to financial arrangements and kin relations. Although cohabitation is an incomplete institution, all relationships have a structure and are guided by norms. Further, many see cohabitation as preparation for marriage; thus, these couples tend to arrange their finances and have relationships with each other's family in ways that are similar to married couples. Study limitations and suggestions for future research conclude the dissertation.