| Pathways to marriage and cohabitation in Central America |
| Authors: |
Kathryn Grace, and Stuart Sweeney |
| Source: |
Demographic Research, 30(6): 187-226; DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2014.30.6 |
| Topic(s): |
Marriage
|
| Country: |
Latin American/Caribbean
Guatemala
Honduras
Nicaragua
|
| Published: |
JAN 2014 |
| Abstract: |
BACKGROUND
The notion that increasing prevalence of cohabitation relative to marriage, and increasing
age at first marriage are part of a broader shift in societal norms – a second demographic
transition – is now well supported by studies focused on US and European populations.
Recent research points to the similarly high prevalence of cohabitation in Latin America
as perhaps signaling the diffusion of modern ideals and norms about union formation.
In Central America this is unlikely to be the case given the long history and enduring
acceptance of cohabitation that is unrelated to modern ideals. While there are studies
that have documented this history and current prevalence, there is no research examining
the intersecting life course pathways from adolescence through early adulthood that lead
to marriage or cohabitation. This is not surprising given that available data for Central
American countries are not ideally suited to studying the process.
METHODS
We use retrospective questions from large, nationally representative Central American
surveys (Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua) to establish the timing of marriage or cohabitation
and events that are closely tied to union formation. We utilize additive causespecific
hazard models, and predicted transition probabilities based on selected covariate
pathways, to study the competing risks of exiting from the status of never in union.
RESULTS
Our results identify sexual activity and pregnancy as the primary drivers of union formation
and indicate that education serves as a protective factor against union formation. We
also find distinct differences among countries and a strong indication that cohabitations
are less stable unions. |
| Web: |
https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/26348197.pdf?ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_expensive%2Fcontrol&refreqid=search%3A47fa375d318298d0bdb4f3a21afa77fd |
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