Fear of divorce deters live-in couples from marriage, especially its social, legal, emotional and economic ramifications, says a new US study. Demographers Sharon Sassler, professor of policy analysis and management, and Dela Kusi-Appouh, doctoral student in development sociology, both at Cornell University, conducted the study.
Roughly 67 percent of the study respondents shared their worries about divorce. However, middle-class subjects spoke more favourably about tying the knot and viewed cohabitation as a natural stepping stone to marriage. However, lower-income women, disproportionately expressed doubts about the "trap" of marriage, fearing that it could be hard to exit if things go wrong or it would lead to more responsibilities but few benefits.
The study also found working-class live-in couples were more apt to view marriage as "just a piece of paper," nearly identical to their existing relationship. They were also twice as likely to admit fears about being stuck in marriage with no way out once they were relying on their partners' share of income to get by.