When will young adults get the message that living together does not increase their chances of a lasting marriage? New analysis of US national data shows that, on average, cohabitation actually decreases by 6 percentage points the likelihood of marriage lasting 10 years or more.

Despite earlier research showing this same pattern, more and more young adults delay marriage and cohabit: nearly two out of three women in their late 30s have done so, according to this study of 2002 data by the National Centre for Health Statistics.

However, the effects vary by education:

Half of couples who cohabit marry within three years, the study found. If both partners are college graduates, the chances improve that they will marry and that their marriage will last at least 10 years.

“The figures suggest to me that cohabitation is still a pathway to marriage for many… click here to read whole article and make comments