ST. GEORGE — Premarital cohabitation has been increasing at a rapid number of 72 percent since the year 1990. Studies have shown that individuals who forgo a cohabiting relationship are more susceptible to unhappiness and domestic violence than those in a married relationship.
Couples who are fully committed to each other should make it official and make the relationship known and binding.
Some might look at premarital cohabitation as the “trial period” of a relationship to fully know someone before committing entirely, but half of a commitment is no commitment at all.
Many individuals look to the data that puts couples living together before marriage at a lower risk of divorce in the first year. However, the odds of divorce only rise each year after that.
The fact of the matter is this, cohabitating couples have a separation rate five times that of married couples. When a commitment between two people is bound, a sense of security and trust is embedded within the relationship.
No matter if it is for convenience, a way to test the waters, or for economic reasons, the problems that may arise later are not worth the immediate gratification.