Premarital Cohabitation Speech

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THE EFFECTS OF COHABITATION ON MARRIAGE STABILITY Specific purpose: To invite my audience to explore divorce risk factors when cohabitation exists prior to marriage and when it does not. INTRODUCTION I. Since 1960 the divorce rate has tripled, and in 2003 about 50% of all marriages ended in divorce (Lloyd and Weiten 2003). The divorce probabilities are at their peak between 5 and 10 years into a marriage. With about half of all marriages deciding to get a divorce, it is important to further research and to try and determine why marital stability is declining. Attitudes have shifted and more individuals have decided to cohabitate. Transition: Today I wish to explore the risks of a divorce when cohabitation exists prior to marriage opposed to when it does not. I will present a brief overview of interesting facts and statistics about these two different determinates leading to divorce and then I would like you all to voice your ideas on this very important issue. BODY I. Cohabitation is defined as an emotional, physical, and intellectually intimate relationship which includes a common living place and which exists without the benefit of legal, cultural, or religious sanctions. II. In 1998, The National Survey of Families and Households conducted a national sample survey of just over 13,000 married individuals on what their perceived likelihood of divorce in their relationship was. 1. The findings recorded indicate that married individuals that cohabitated for two years or more view their relationship as having a 22% chance of ending in divorce. 2. Those that did not cohabitate had a perceived likelihood of 11.8%, almost half of those who choose cohabitation. 3. The research also indicated that those individuals with more education had a significantly lower likelihood of divorce. A. The decline in marriage among those who
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