Does cohabitation increase divorce risk?Older research: YesSelection effects- when you’re designing research and you’re selecting the two groups of people you are comparing: the goal is to get two groups that are extremely similar, but there are already differences between these two groupsAttitudes toward marriage become less favorableNewer research: If engaged 1st, noIf not engaged 1st, cohabitation with lower marital satisfaction, increased divorce risk“Serial cohabitation” = increased divorce chance“Don’t slide, decide!” – it’s better to make a conscious decision to live with a partner rather than just “sliding” intoMarriageWomen more likely to marry older partner; men younger partnerMarried people happier, healthier, have longer livesHealth benefits greater for men, though gap is narrowingMarriage satisfaction:Majority are satisfied with marriageWomen slightly happier with marriage with menSatisfaction changes over time:Peaks early, declines through midlife, increases again in later yearsHaving children impacts marital satisfactionHaving kids correlated with lower marital satisfactionSatisfaction decreases as # of kids increasesSatisfaction high before kids, declines as children are born, keeps declining until teen years, increases when kids move outWhy?Children take time away from relationshipChildren add stressDevelop more traditional gender roles after kidsFeelings of inequality decrease marital satisfactionSex in MarriageAlso changes over timePassion high beginning, fades over timeNo matter how much sex at start, nearly all have less over timeOnly 6% had increasedWhy the decline?Mostly because stress/pressure increases over marriageIn later ages, biological changes contributeMajority still have sex frequently40% have sex 2+ times per week, 50% a few times per monthPositive correlation between satisfaction with sex life and how often couple have sexHow can married couples stay satisfied?Marriages last longer when both partners:Have positive attitude about marriageView partner as best friend and like their partner as a personBelieve marriage is long-term commitmentHave high rewards and low costsMarital satisfaction correlated with:Self-disclosure: telling your partner deep things about yourselfPhysical and emotional intimacyPersonality similaritiesFor men: frequency of pleasurable activities done togetherFor women: frequency of pleasurable activities done together that focus on emotional closenessHaving positive traditions or rituals specific to the couple/familySame Sex CouplesThe majority of homosexual people develop long term committed relationships40-60% of gay men, 45-80% of lesbiansRelationships have both similarities and differences to heterosexual relationshipsSimilar issues, relationships changes over timeDifferences:Higher relationship satisfaction, lower levels of conflictMore equality in rolesSatisfaction highest among lesbians, followed by gay men, followed by married hetero couplesMore likely to break upMore connected to ex-partnersGay male couples have sex more often than hetero couples or lesbiansPSYCH 3260 1st Edition Lecture 19 Outline of Last Lecture I. Adult Sexual Relationshipsa. Reiss: 4 standardsb. Attitudes towards sex outside of marriageII. Hooking UpIII. Cohabitation Outline of Current Lecture I. Cohabitation cont.II. Marriagea. Marriage Satisfactionb. Sex in MarriageIII. Same Sex CouplesCurrent Lecture- Does cohabitation increase divorce risk?o Older research: Yes Selection effects- when you’re designing research and you’re selecting the two groups of people you are comparing: the goal is to get two groups that are extremely similar, but there are already differences between these two groups Attitudes toward marriage become less favorable o Newer research: If engaged 1st, no  If not engaged 1st, cohabitation with lower marital satisfaction, increased divorce risk “Serial cohabitation” = increased divorce chance “Don’t slide, decide!” – it’s better to make a conscious decision to live with a partner rather than just “sliding” intoThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute. Marriage- Women more likely to marry older partner; men younger partner- Married people happier, healthier, have longer liveso Health benefits greater for men, though gap is narrowing- Marriage satisfaction:o Majority are satisfied with marriage Women slightly happier with marriage with men o Satisfaction changes over time: Peaks early, declines through midlife, increases again in later yearso Having children impacts marital satisfaction Having kids correlated with lower marital satisfaction Satisfaction decreases as # of kids increases Satisfaction high before kids, declines as children are born, keeps declining until teen years, increases when kids move out Why? Children take time away from relationship Children add stress Develop more traditional gender roles after kids- Feelings of inequality decrease marital satisfaction- Sex in Marriageo Also changes over time Passion high beginning, fades over time No matter how much sex at start, nearly all have less over time Only 6% had increased Why the decline? Mostly because stress/pressure increases over marriage In later ages, biological changes contributeo Majority still have sex frequently 40% have sex 2+ times per week, 50% a few times per montho Positive correlation between satisfaction with sex life and how often couple have sex- How can married couples stay satisfied?o Marriages last longer when both partners: Have positive attitude about marriage View partner as best friend and like their partner as a person Believe marriage is long-term commitment Have high rewards and low costso Marital satisfaction correlated with: Self-disclosure: telling your partner deep things about yourself Physical and emotional intimacy Personality similarities For men: frequency of pleasurable activities done together For women: frequency of pleasurable activities done together that focus on emotional closeness Having positive traditions or rituals specific to the couple/family Same Sex Couples- The majority of homosexual people develop long term committed relationshipso 40-60% of gay men, 45-80% of lesbians- Relationships have both similarities and differences to heterosexual relationships o