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A new look at the housing antecedents of separation

Author

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  • Rory Coulter

    (University College London (UCL))

  • Michael Thomas

    (Statistisk sentralbyrå (Statistics Norway))

Abstract

Background: Research connecting partnership dissolution to housing dynamics usually concentrates on the adverse and gendered effects of separation on housing careers. Much less is known about whether housing circumstances are also influential antecedents of separation. Objective: This paper examines how three dimensions of housing circumstances are associated with separation: (1) legal arrangements of housing tenure and gendered housing contracts; (2) the lived environment (space) within dwellings; and (3) couples’ ability to meet housing payments. Methods: This theoretical framework is tested using event history probit models of separation among a large sample of couples drawn from the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS). Results: The results show that all three dimensions of housing circumstances are associated with separation. Crucially, mortgage or rent arrears strongly increase the risk of partnership dissolution, especially among married couples who otherwise typically have a low propensity to separate. The risk of partnership dissolution is greater for renters than homeowners and greater female control over housing predicts separation, with partnership dissolution more likely when only the woman is written into the dwelling contract as compared to when both partners or only the man hold contractual rights. Contribution: These results suggest that growing difficulties obtaining secure and affordable housing could have negative consequences for partnership stability. We therefore call for researchers to engage more thoroughly with housing as a potential driver of demographic change.

Suggested Citation

  • Rory Coulter & Michael Thomas, 2019. "A new look at the housing antecedents of separation," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 40(26), pages 725-760.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:40:y:2019:i:26
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2019.40.26
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Júlia Mikolai & Hill Kulu & Clara Mulder, 2020. "Family life transitions, residential relocations, and housing in the life course: Current research and opportunities for future work: Introduction to the Special Collection on “Separation, Divorce, an," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 43(2), pages 35-58.
    2. Jane Zavisca & Theodore Gerber & Hyungjun Suh, 2021. "Housing Status in Post-Soviet Contexts: A Multi-dimensional Measurement Approach," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 153(2), pages 609-634, January.
    3. Sandra Krapf & Clara H. Mulder & Michael Wagner, 2022. "The Transition to a Coresidential Partnership: Who Moves and Who Has the Partner Move In?," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(2), pages 757-779, April.
    4. Sandra Krapf & Michael Wagner, 2020. "Housing Affordability, Housing Tenure Status and Household Density: Are Housing Characteristics Associated with Union Dissolution?," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 36(4), pages 735-764, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    gender; housing; longitudinal analysis; partnerships; separation; United Kingdom; family stability;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

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

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