Final answer:
The direct correlation between cohabitation and increased divorce rates is not conclusively supported, and broader factors such as financial stress and familial patterns of divorce play a more significant role. Financial stability and socialized beliefs about marriage significantly impact the likelihood of divorce.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that living together with a partner increases the chance of divorcing if the couple eventually marries could potentially be false based on recent trends. However, it is necessary to look at broader contributing factors to divorce. For instance, research indicates that financial stress can greatly impact marital stability. Couples entering marriage without a strong asset base are 70 percent more likely to divorce within three years, pointing to the significance of financial security for marital longevity. Moreover, the addition of children, particularly multiple births, adds stress that may lead to a higher likelihood of divorce. Yet, simply cohabitating does not definitively lead to higher divorce rates if the relationship translates into marriage.
Other factors worth considering include the cyclical pattern of divorce where children of divorced parents have a higher likelihood of divorce themselves. This socialization towards viewing marriages as replaceable can propagate higher divorce rates. Still, it's important to recognize that the perception of marriage remains positive among many individuals, stressing the importance of a strong marital and family life.