The Impact of Attitudes on the Transition to Marriage among Cohabiting Couples in Sweden

Eva Bernhardt, Stockholm University
Guy Moors, Tilburg University

Cohabitation among unmarried couples is very prevalent in Sweden. Yet, marriage seems to remain a positive option for a majority of the cohabiting couples. This paper analyses whether, and in which way, values matter in explaining the transition to marriage among cohabiting couples in Sweden. We use a unique data set which combines survey data on attitudes among young adults in Sweden with register data on marriages occurring in the 2½ years following the survey. Our preliminary findings show clearly that attitudes matter. Among the 17 attitudinal scales constructed, several were found to be highly significant. The three most important, with a positive impact on marriage, were 1) importance of economic success and autonomy at work, 2) general satisfaction with own living conditions, and 3) regarding marriage as romantic and indicating a serious relationship. The only significant interaction between gender and attitudes was the attitudinal scale stressing the provider role.