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Beyond Instability: How Do Children Fare in Long-Term Cohabiting Unions?

Bogle, Ryan Heath
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1277143411

Abstract Details

2010, Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, Sociology.
Children living in cohabiting unions experience a greater risk of parental instability relative to children residing in married parent families. However, remaining in a long-term cohabiting union may expose children to other risks more detrimental than instability. Through selection, the most invested and financially secure couples may transition into marriage, while less secure couples may maintain co-residence in order to benefit from the economic and emotional support that a cohabiting partner provides. Thus, long-term cohabitation may have negative implications, in that couples who would be better off dissolving the union do not. Using the first four waves of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing survey, I examine the characteristics of 532 new parents cohabiting nine months or less prior to conception of a child. First, means for indicators of child wellbeing are calculated and compared for long-term cohabiting parents, parents who marry, and parents who break-up. Additional comparisons are performed between all parents cohabiting at baseline and long-term cohabiting parents. The second analysis examines the adjusted means of long-term cohabiting parents against short-term cohabiting parents, or those who break-up shortly after the birth of the child. Long-term cohabiting parents are comprised of lower earning and less educated mothers and fathers. In terms of parental relationship quality and socioeconomic characteristics, children fare worse relative to those who transition to marriage, and were often no different from those who dissolved. Children in long-term cohabiting unions do not fare any worse relative to short-term unions, and have significantly lower levels of couple disagreement. Findings suggest new ways of conceptualizing instability.
Catherine Kenney, PhD (Advisor)
I-Fen Lin, PhD (Committee Member)
Wendy Manning, PhD (Committee Member)
58 p.
Sociology
Cohabitation; unwed parents; long-term cohabitation; child wellbeing

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Bogle, R. H. (2010). Beyond Instability: How Do Children Fare in Long-Term Cohabiting Unions? [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1277143411

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Bogle, Ryan. Beyond Instability: How Do Children Fare in Long-Term Cohabiting Unions? 2010. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1277143411.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Bogle, Ryan. "Beyond Instability: How Do Children Fare in Long-Term Cohabiting Unions?" Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1277143411

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1277143411
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© 2010, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.