Final answer:
Delayed marriage is a key trend associated with cohabitation according to Phillips and Sweeney (2005), as societal norms shift towards accepting cohabitation and individuals prioritize personal goals over early marriage. Despite common beliefs, cohabitation has little effect on divorce rates, and its influence on fertility rates is more complex. Changing societal norms greatly affect cohabitation trends.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Phillips and Sweeney (2005), delayed marriage is a trend associated with cohabitation. With the shift in societal views and a decrease in the social stigma around cohabitation, it has become more common for couples to share a residence without being married. The increasing acceptance of single parenting and cohabitation may lead individuals to be less motivated to marry at a young age. Instead, many prioritize education and career development, leading to the delay of marriage. Evidence of this trend is seen in the median age for marriage reaching historical highs, at 26 for women and 28 for men according to the U.S. Census (2010).
Moreover, rather than contributing to higher divorce rates, recent research suggests that cohabitation has little effect on the success of a marriage, and in fact, those who do not cohabitate before marriage have somewhat better rates of remaining married over ten years. These insights question the assumption that cohabitation may lead to a higher likelihood of divorce.
Regarding fertility rates, cohabitation does not necessarily result in lower fertility rates, and the relationship between cohabitation and fertility is complex, with various factors influencing an individual's choices regarding childbearing. Lastly, it is evident that changing societal norms have greatly influenced the trends in cohabitation, with a significant increase in the number of people living together without marriage, reflecting more liberal attitudes towards such living arrangements and partnerships.