An analysis of cohabitation, marriage and divorce data from 13 countries, including the United States, shows living together has become mainstream, USA Today reported.
The National Marriage Project study of a sampling of Western European and Scandinavian nations, Australia, Canada and New Zealand found 15 percent to 30 percent of couples live together, compared with about 10 percent in the United States.
A previous study by the same group showed that since 1970, the number of Americans living together has increased from about 500,000 heterosexual couples to more than 5 million. In the United States from 1995 to 2005, the marriage rate declined almost 20 percent.
"Americans have downplayed qualities that are vital for a healthy marriage culture — commitment and faithfulness," said Jenny Tyree, associate marriage analyst at Focus on the Family Action. "The de-emphasis on these qualities has profoundly and negatively influenced this and successive generations.
"If Americans want to strengthen marriage in this country, they need to support it in the home, the church and at the ballot box as the union of one man and one woman who together raise their children."
The National Marriage Project report also cites findings from earlier studies showing children of cohabiting couples are more likely to experience emotional problems, alcoholism and drug abuse.
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