Unmarried couples who live together are more fearful of splitting up

Unmarried couples who live together are more fearful of splitting up than those that have wed, study suggests

  • Four in 10 families with unmarried parents in danger of breaking up, study says 
  • International survey found British parents more troubled than other countries 
  •  The findings were based on a survey of nearly 16,500 parents in 11 countries

Almost four in ten families with unmarried parents are in danger of breaking apart, research suggests.

While 39 per cent of cohabiting mothers and fathers had ‘serious doubts’ their family would stay together, only 27 per cent of married ones had similar concerns.

The international survey found British parents were more troubled by their relationship than those in other countries.

The international survey found British parents were more troubled by their relationship than those in other countries (stock image)

In the US, 36 per cent of cohabitee parents said they had serious doubts. In Canada it was 34 per cent, and in France just 31 per cent.

The findings were based on a survey of nearly 16,500 parents in 11 countries, including 2,344 from the UK. Scientists at the University of Virginia worked on the project for the US-based Institute for Family Studies.


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When asked if their relationship was more important than other things in their life only 54 per cent of British cohabitee parents put their partnership first.

By contrast, 71 per cent of married parents said their relationship was their top priority.

One in five British families – about 1.25million – include unmarried cohabiting parents. More than one in 20 of these families are thought to break up each year, about four times the rate of those led by married parents.

One in five British families – about 1.25million – include unmarried cohabiting parents

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