Comparative Perspectives on Same-Sex Couple Cohabitation: How Legal and Social Factors Shape Trends across Europe

Maïlys Goetschy, Université de Strasbourg
Ester L. Rizzi, Université Catholique de Louvain

Since the 1970s, changes in family and couple life in Europe have led to a diversification of union models, including same-sex couples cohabitation. Despite this trend, quantitative research on same-sex couples remains sparse. This paper seeks to analyze the evolution of same-sex cohabitation across European countries, examining its relationship with legislative developments and shifts in societal attitudes toward homosexuality. The study adopts an international comparative approach with a focus on temporal changes. We will answer two research questions: (1) How has the proportion of cohabiting same-sex couples evolved in European countries? (2) How do legislation (such as same-sex registered partnerships and marriage), changes in societal attitudes toward homosexuality), and the prevalence of same-sex cohabitation interact? To answer these questions, we will use data from the European Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS) and the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), which offer data from 21 countries over more than 20 years. Additionally, we will also use data from the European Social Survey and the European Values Study to examine shifts in attitudes toward homosexuality. Preliminary results indicate a rising trend in same-sex cohabitation across most European countries, particularly where registered partnerships and marriage are legalized and where societal attitudes towards homosexuality are more accepting.

Keywords: Families, Unions and Households, Spatial Demography, Multi-level modeling

See extended abstract.