stability much more prone to separation and less likely to reconcile cohabiting relationships lost some of its appreciation more problems with alcohol ohabitation men tend to have lower earnings more likely to dissolve cohabiting couples more likely to dissolve cohabiting relationships ohabitation far less stable than marriage ohabitation loose bonds of cohabitation loose bonds of cohabitation lost some of its appreciation cohabiting couples men tend to have lower earnings loose bonds of cohabitation more problems with alcohol higher instance of alcohol problems much more prone to separation and less likely to reconcile loose bonds of cohabitation stability higher instance of alcohol problems