People who cohabit are more likely to divorce. Some people suggest that this is because the type of person who cohabits may be the same type of person who would willingly end an unhappy marriage. This is called a:

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The selection effect refers to the possibility that people who choose to cohabit are different in some way from those who do not, and this difference may increase their likelihood of divorce. In this case, it is suggested that the same personality traits or characteristics that make someone more likely to cohabit (such as being independent, commitment-phobic, or unwilling to put up with an unhappy relationship) may also make them more likely to divorce. This is a well-established phenomenon in social research, and it could help to explain the higher divorce rates among cohabiting couples.

People Who Cohabit Are More Likely to Divorce