Living apart together and cohabitation intentions in Great Britain

Presenter: Yang Hu, University of Cambridge

Author: Yang Hu

Co-author(s): Rory Coulter

A growing number of studies examine the ‘individualisation’ of intimate relationships by analysing the prevalence of living apart together (LAT) unions and the reasons why people live in a different household from their partner. Although this literature shows that LAT is a heterogeneous practice, little is known about how the factors associated with LAT may vary with life course position. Moreover without examining who intends to convert LAT into a co-residential union, it is difficult to assess for whom LAT is a novel and durable arrangement as opposed to a transitional stage in a more conventional partnership pathway. Drawing on data from Wave 3 of Understanding Society, we use Multiple Correspondence Analysis to construct a four-fold typology of individuals in LAT relationships: Nested Young Adults, Independent Adults, Single Parents and Seniors. Each of the identified profiles is characterised by a distinctive position in the life course. Using logistic regression models, we then show that different factors configure the cohabitation intentions of the four profiles of individuals in LAT relationships. Taken together, these results indicate that LAT is less a symptom of the individualisation of intimate relationships than a flexible way to practice partnership within the confines of life course circumstances. This highlights how the life course perspective can enrich our understanding of the heterogeneity of LAT.