Adaptation of gender and marriage beliefs: Early relationship years and cohabitation drive partner influence
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20377/jfr-1380Keywords:
Gender and marriage beliefs, normative beliefs, attitude convergence, heterosexual relationships, gender differences, shared life course transitionsAbstract
Objective: This study examines how differences in romantic partners' gender and marriage beliefs affect whether and how individuals adapt their own beliefs over time.
Background: To date, research on convergence of gender and marriage beliefs in couples is limited. Applying a life course perspective, we conceptualize beliefs as dynamic and new relationships as unique contexts, where partners’ exposure to each other’s beliefs, the need to build shared realities, and shared life course transitions such as cohabitation, marriage, and parenthood foster convergence.
Method: Using nationally representative data from the German Family Panel pairfam, we provide a strong methodological approach by combining two-stage least squares fixed effects (2SLS-FE; n = 521 couples) and regular fixed effects (FE; n = 1732 couples) regression models. Beliefs are measured with five statements covering normative gender and marriage beliefs. For the 2SLS-FE models, we use information about the beliefs of the mother of one partner to create an instrumental variable.
Results: Findings show strong evidence of convergence, particularly within 3-5 years of relationship duration, with moderate-to-large shifts towards more traditional or progressive positions depending on the item. Institutionalising transitions, particularly cohabitation, partly mediate the effects. We find no gender differences in who influences whom more.
Conclusion: Romantic relationships are dynamic arenas of belief change, with early years of relationship institutionalisation, particularly cohabitation, representing key contexts of partner influence.
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