Do you think that cohabitation before marriage is a good way to know each other

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development reports: "Cohabitation, once rare, is now the norm: The researchers found that more than half (54 percent) of all first marriages between 1990 and 1994 began with unmarried cohabitation. They estimate that a majority of young men and women of marriageable age today will spend some time in a cohabiting relationship. ...Cohabiting relationships are less stable than marriages and that instability is increasing, the study found." Other statistics show that within 5 years, HALF of all cohabiting relationships will end EVEN IF the couple married during that time. The odds are at increased risk of having a divorce as opposed to those couples who do not cohabitate. I think if you really want to know how they are in the mornings or in stressful situations, have both families go on an extended camping trip, or more than one camping trip to get a fuller picture. But cohabitation just puts your relationship at a higher risk for divorce.

For me, cohabitation before marriage is not good. It is not healthy. And it is against the Bible. Cohabitation is allowed here in our country. In fact, there are lots of couple here who are in that situation. But I am against it. I believe that marriage should come first before anything.

I think for a woman this is not a good option she could be pregnant and the man would just fled leave her with the baby after he gets what he wants but then again as an adult to each their own decision

Hey, No personally I don't think that it is a good way to start a relationship. I have seen countless people involved in this, then the woman falls pregnant and the man leaves and never returns. Terrible, absolutely shocking. I am opposed to this. Make sure you have a good day, Happy Lotting!!

I think it's a good thing but you really don't know what you're getting into until the day after you're married. My friends did it for a really long time and are still together. We did it for a short time and are now headed towards separation and divorse. When I say we I mean my husband and me. So sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I think the difference for me is my friends had a child and I wasn't able to.

I do not think that cohabitation before marriage is a good way to know each other. You can not really know what you will do in every given situation. I am old fashion as they say and I feel that it is the respect that you start off with by marrying and not living together first. I have seen many couples who cohabitated and after they married it ended in a divorce. I think it is a bad thing.

Well, I can't say its good or bad either except, it's not really for me. If I cared enough about a person that I wanted to live with them, then I want to be married to them. I don't need a "test live-in" before marriage but that's just me, I know not everyone feels like that and I think that's okay for them because we all have to do what is right for ourselves.

My fiance and I live together with his parents. We have since shortly after we started dating. We got engaged whilst I was living with him... and all it has done is grown us closer together. For some it's different, but I think living together before marriage was a good idea for us.

Hi,leo1985.It seems to a good way to know each other before marriage.If I had a girl friend,I wold think take a conhabitation before marriage.It is best way to test whether she is a good girl and fit for you.

I know that society or atleast our previous generations would feel that living together out of wedlock is a sin and shouldn't be allowed to happen but we are in a new era and I personally feel that it is one of the best ways to really get to know the person that you are planning on spending the rest of your life with as once you start living with them everything changes. Trust me....I'm in that situation and you definately will see many changes from your dating time up to the time you begin living together. This will allow for the opportunity to make sure that the 2 of you are compatible with each other before taking that final step.

I personally do believe that people should live together prior to marriage because by living with each other you can definately get a better idea of just how this particular individual really and truly is. This can be the difference between a happy marriage and a failed marriage in my opinion. I know that a lot of people from generations prior to me would not agree with living out of wedlock but unfortunately society is much different now. Have a great day.

hi there! i'm not in the position to know whether it's good or bad. the point is, things that may apply to one couple may not apply to the other. :)

I think co-habitation before marriage is practical if only people realise the commitment that comes with it. The sole purpose of marriage is to keep people together, binding them with commitment. However sometimes it becomes more of a bondage if people do not take marriage in the true spirit, which is why we have so many marriages breaking up!

I"m not sure I find this right or wrong to be honest. Is some ways I can see this working; the pros you listed but also I wouldn't just move in with any old boyfriend of mine. I would only move in with someone if I could see myself with them

I would like to live withmy boyfried some time before we get married. I think it's a good for a couple to know more about eachother because it's better to cohabit with eachother and find out that there are things we can't stand about each other then just get married and then divorce afterwards because of "character differrences". Of course this is the worst case scenario but still, the more aware you are of your partner the better it is for your relationship.

You really give us a tough question in this social society. Nowadays, more and more young people choose cohabitation before getting marriage.They trust they will get happiness in such relationship.Actually,we just choose a way to hurt ourselves. When we get together, we move all things together and mess them.Then we break up, we should separate them again or maybe just leave them and turn around ourselves. What do we feel at that moment? Nothing or "don't do it again?"

I think you mean Live-in I don't against it but I think women is often the loser in the relationship because there's no guarantee in the relationship. Sometimes it is not acceptable by the society. Children are also affected of it if there parents are not married sometimes they friends told them that they are illigetimate. Here in the Philippines because most of people here are Catholics most of them are objecting this kind of relationship.

Hi Leo,I can't say that cohabitation before marriage is good or bad. They have a pros and cons in between. Having cohabitation before marriage is not good for some old folks.They have a kinda of bad thinking when talking about cohabitation. For some old folks, they fully disagreed with this kind of arrangement. No staying together during dating time. Only when after marriage, then can stay together. For young generation, we are more open-minded and cohabitation before marriage is not really a big deal. We can know each other better and same time we can share our burden,happiness and sadness all the time by staying together,of course,not for the XXX purposes. What I can conclude is that it is depend on what the couple want when they decided to go for cohabitation before they get married.

For me it is one way to know each other but not always a good way to learn your partner. Now, in modern society cohabitation is like a normal thing, there are stories that they have been successful living together before marriage. It really depends on the customs and beliefs of a person. Like me, I truly believe that it is not just a way to fully know your partner there are other means. It is also not a basis for successful marriage. :)

I personally think it's a good idea. I can understand couples who are morally against it or just simply don't, but I feel that really knowing and understanding each other is important before making a lifetime commitment (especially these days). Realistically, it's not just 'love' that's important. It's the ability to deal with each others' differences. Does him leaving the seat up in the bathroom drive you crazy? Does her clothes tripping you up when you get out of bed in the morning fill you with uncontrollable rage? These are questions which can only be answered by living together.