Final answer:
Couples who live together before engagement or marriage to 'test' their relationship tend to experience more communication issues and conflicts than those who are engaged or plan to marry without cohabitation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Couples who move in together to "test" their relationship report more communication issues, including more conflicts, than those who are engaged or who plan to marry eventually. This finding is supported by the research indicating that cohabitation used as a "trial run" for marriage does not necessarily have a significant impact on the success of a subsequent marriage. In fact, some studies report that couples who don't live together before marriage have slightly better rates of remaining married for a longer period. Despite this, many couples still see cohabitation as a step toward marriage. The economic benefits, such as saving on living costs as well as desires to spend more time together, are factors for cohabitation.