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Neither single, nor in a couple. A study of living apart together in France

Author

Listed:
  • Arnaud Régnier-Loilier

    (Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED))

  • Eva Beaujouan

    (Universität Wien)

  • Catherine Villeneuve-Gokalp

    (Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED))

Abstract

Among living arrangements, living apart together relationships arouse curiosity on the part of sociologists, demographers and even the media. From a scientific point of view, how have noncohabiting relationships evolved in recent decades? How can we recognise these relationships, and who are the populations concerned? The present study provides an overall view into noncohabiting relationships in France, shedding light on the characteristics of both the individuals concerned and their relationships. There has been no recent increase in the prevalence of this living arrangement. It competes with cohabiting relationships both among students and among people with cohabiting children. Four main groups of living apart relationships are described: "Young adults", "Out of a family", "Seniors." The reasons for living apart as well as future intentions vary considerably across these groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Arnaud Régnier-Loilier & Eva Beaujouan & Catherine Villeneuve-Gokalp, 2009. "Neither single, nor in a couple. A study of living apart together in France," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 21(4), pages 75-108.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:21:y:2009:i:4
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2009.21.4
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    1. repec:cai:popine:popu_p1997_52n5_1081 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. repec:cai:popine:popu_p1996_51n4-5_0927 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Teresa Castro Martín & Marta Dominguez Folgueras & Teresa Martín García, 2008. "Not truly partnerless: Non-residential partnerships and retreat from marriage in Spain," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 18(16), pages 443-468.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ernestina Coast & Alex Fanghanel & Eva Lelièvre & Sara Randall, 2016. "Counting the Population or Describing Society? A Comparison of English and Welsh and French Censuses," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 32(2), pages 165-188, May.
    2. Inge Pasteels & Vicky Lyssens-Danneboom & Dimitri Mortelmans, 2017. "A Life Course Perspective on Living Apart Together: Meaning and Incidence Across Europe," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 130(2), pages 799-817, January.
    3. Nicolas Robette, 2020. "The Life Courses of Young Adults in France: Changes in Social and Gender Differentiation over the Long Period," Economie et Statistique / Economics and Statistics, Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques (INSEE), issue 514-515-5, pages 9-28.
    4. Christine Schnor, 2015. "Does waiting pay off for couples? Partnership duration prior to household formation and union stability," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 33(22), pages 611-652.
    5. Arnaud Régnier-Loilier & Daniele Vignoli, 2018. "The diverse nature of living apart together relationships: an Italy–France comparison," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 35(1), pages 1-22, March.
    6. Carole Bonnet & Fanny Godet & Anne Solaz, 2019. "Gendered economic determinants of couple formation over 50 in France," Working Papers G2019/13, French Institute for Demographic Studies.
    7. Paulina Gałęzewska & Brienna Perelli-Harris & Ann Berrington, 2017. "Cross-national differences in women's repartnering behaviour in Europe: The role of individual demographic characteristics," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 37(8), pages 189-228.
    8. Anne-Lise Biotteau & Carole Bonnet & Emmanuelle Cambois, 2019. "Risk of Major Depressive Episodes After Separation: The Gender-Specific Contribution of the Income and Support Lost Through Union Dissolution," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 35(3), pages 519-542, July.
    9. Christine Schnor, 2013. "Does waiting pay off? The effect of partnership duration prior to household formation on union stability," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2013-016, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    10. Pascale Breuil-Genier & Guillemette Buisson & Isabelle Robert-Bobée & Loïc Trabut, 2016. "Enquête Famille et Logements adossée au Recensement de 2011 : comment s’adapter à la nouvelle méthodologie des enquêtes annuelles et quels apports ?," Économie et Statistique, Programme National Persée, vol. 483(1), pages 205-226.
    11. Lonneke van den Berg, 2023. "The educational gradient in young singlehood: The role of gender and the gender climate," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 48(6), pages 153-188.
    12. Alisa C. Lewin, 2018. "Intentions to Live Together Among Couples Living Apart: Differences by Age and Gender," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 34(5), pages 721-743, December.
    13. Aart C. Liefbroer & Anne-Rigt Poortman & Judith Seltzer, 2015. "Why do intimate partners live apart? Evidence on LAT relationships across Europe," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 32(8), pages 251-286.
    14. Arnaud Régnier-Loilier & Daniele Vignoli, 2014. "Similar incidence, different nature? Characteristics of Living Apart Together relationships in France and Italy," Econometrics Working Papers Archive 2014_11, Universita' degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Statistica, Informatica, Applicazioni "G. Parenti".
    15. Stefan Mauritz & Michael Wagner, 2021. "LAT relationships: A new living arrangement among the oldest old population in Germany?," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 44(14), pages 349-362.
    16. Sandra Krapf, 2018. "Moving in or Breaking Up? The Role of Distance in the Development of Romantic Relationships," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 34(3), pages 313-336, August.
    17. Arnaud Régnier-Loilier, 2016. "Partnership trajectories of people in stable non-cohabiting relationships in France," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 35(40), pages 1169-1212.
    18. Barbara Elisabeth Fulda, 2016. "The diversity in longitudinal partnership trajectories during the transition to adulthood: How is it related to individual characteristics and regional living conditions?," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 35(37), pages 1101-1134.
    19. Marie Bergström & Léonard Moulin, 2022. "Couple Formation is Prolonged not Postponed. New Paths to Union Formation in Contemporary France," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 38(5), pages 975-1008, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    cohabitation; living arrangements; Generations and Gender Survey (GGS); typology; intimate relationship; living apart together (LAT);
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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