Delaying marriage leads to changing lifestyle for young people in Scandinavia and in the United States.

Abstract

Data from both Scandinavia and the United States indicate that an increasing number of young people under 25 seem to be cohabiting with a member of the opposite sex while unmarried. The trend is continuing and accelerating. This changed lifestyle reflects a trend toward delayed marriage and an increased tolerance of such alternatives to marriage in the society. In 1974 in the United States, 60% of households headed by an adult less than 25 years of age were composed of married couples. There has also been an increase in 1-parent families, especially households headed by young females.