Miami University

Cohabitation Among Older Adults: A National Portrait

S. L. Brown, G.R. Lee, & J.R. Bulanda
2006

The prevalence of cohabitation among older persons in the United States has grown substantially in recent decades, but we know very little about the characteristics of older adults who cohabit. Using data from both the 2000 Census and the 1998 Health and Retirement Study, we provide a portrait of cohabitors aged 51 and older, emphasizing how they compare to older marrieds as well as those who are unpartnered. We identify significant differences among cohabitors, marrieds, and unpartnereds across several dimensions, including sociodemographic characteristics, economic resources, physical health, intergenerational transfers, and social support.

(Published in Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, vol. 61, S71-S79)

Paper reprints of this article are not available through Scripps Gerontology Center, to obtain a copy of this publication check with the author, the journal, or your library.

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