Being together, living apart: A more frequent arrangement after a separation

Abstract

In France, being in a relationship without living together most often corresponds to a stage in the process of union formation rather than a distaste for shared living, especially among young people. On the other hand, for people previously in a union and who already have children, living separately from their new partner may be seen as an “alternative” to cohabitation, enabling them to enjoy a new intimate relationship while maintaining their autonomy and avoiding the constraints of shared living.