not only did cohabitors experience unsuccessful and unstable marriages, she also found an overwhelmingly high rate of delayed marriages. Another study highlighted changes in married and unmarried cohabitation between 1975 and 1980 (Spanier, 1980). This study found a trend in the direction of postponement of marriage for a significantly high number of unmarried couples. It was suggested that unmarried couples are being drawn more carefully into the mainstream of society and that society is more willing to ignore marital status. Because there is not a heavy expectation for marriage, many cohabitors would rather strengthen their relationship before they make final arrangements like marriage. Trends in attitudes toward marriage and cohabitation suggest that norms and values concerning marriage and intimate relationships may have been restructured in important ways, with marriage becoming less relevant in structuring intimate relationships (Thornton, 1989).
             Even though many cohabitors may have definite plans to marry, evidence suggests that high
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