SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL DIMENSIONS OF UNREGISTERED COHABITATION AMONG YOUNG COUPLES
Keywords:
Unregistered cohabitation, youth relationships, family psychologyAbstract
The phenomenon of unregistered cohabitation—intimate partnerships without legal marriage—is becoming increasingly widespread among young adults. While such arrangements reflect changing social norms, preferences for personal autonomy, and economic pragmatism, they also pose complex psychological and social challenges. This paper examines the underlying reasons for avoiding legal marriage, such as past trauma, low legal awareness, and resistance to traditional structures. It explores the emotional instability, insecurity, and weak conflict resolution patterns that can characterize such relationships. Furthermore, the paper analyzes how children raised in these environments may face identity ambiguity, inconsistent role modeling, and heightened anxiety. Drawing on psychosocial development and attachment theories, the study argues for targeted legal, psychological, and social interventions. These include counseling, legal education, and welfare support to promote stability, emotional resilience, and child protection in non-traditional family settings. The article contributes to understanding how evolving family dynamics require adaptive responses from policy, education, and healthcare systems.
Downloads
References
Baumrind, D. (1991). Parenting styles and adolescent development. The Encyclopedia of Adolescence, 2, 746–758.
Bowlby, J. (1988). A secure base: Parent-child attachment and healthy human development. New York: Basic Books.
Cherlin, A. J. (2004). The deinstitutionalization of American marriage. Journal of Marriage and Family, 66(4), 848–861. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0022-2445.2004.00058.x
Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and crisis. New York: W. W. Norton.
Guzzo, K. B. (2014). Trends in cohabitation outcomes: Compositional changes and engagement among never-married young adults. Journal of Marriage and Family, 76(4), 826–842. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12120
Musick, K., & Michelmore, K. (2018). Change in the stability of marital and cohabiting unions following the birth of a child. Demography, 55(5), 1663–1682. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13524-018-0710-7
Perelli-Harris, B., & Bernardi, L. (2015). Exploring social norms around cohabitation: The life course, individualization, and culture. Demographic Research, 33, 1–32. https://doi.org/10.4054/DemRes.2015.33.25
Raley, R. K., & Sweeney, M. M. (2020). Divorce, repartnering, and stepfamilies: Understanding family change in the 21st century. Journal of Marriage and Family, 82(1), 81–99. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12636
Stanley, S. M., Rhoades, G. K., & Markman, H. J. (2006). Sliding versus deciding: Inertia and the premarital cohabitation effect. Family Relations, 55(4), 499–509. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2006.00418.x
Waite, L. J., & Gallagher, M. (2000). The case for marriage: Why married people are happier, healthier, and better off financially. New York: Broadway Books.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Nazokat Khudoyqulova
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The content published on the International Scientific and Current Research Conferences platform, including conference papers, abstracts, and presentations, is made available under an open-access model. Users are free to access, share, and distribute this content, provided that proper attribution is given to the original authors and the source.
