Data sources, methods and definitions

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This article is based on data from the 2011 and 2001 General Social Survey (GSS). Both of these survey cycles were on the family.

The analysis covered people age 20 and over, the same subsample used in a 2003 study published by Statistics Canada.Note1

Some LAT couples are same-sex, however it is not possible, with data from the 2011 General Social Survey, to determine exactly how this applies to Canada. The increase or decrease in cohabitation for same-sex partners can indeed influence trends relating to the number of people in a LAT couple relationship.Note2

Definitions

Person in a living apart together (LAT) couple: Refers to people who were neither married nor living common law at the time of the survey were asked the following question: “Are you currently in an intimate couple relationship with someone you are not living with?” All people who answered yes were determined to be in a LAT couple.

Commuter marriage: Refers to people who were either married or living common law at the time of the survey, but whose partner was currently living in another dwelling.

Factors associated with the likelihood of being in a LAT relationship

A multinomial logit model was used to identify the other factors (in addition to age) that could be associated with a LAT relationship. This model calculates the probability of being in one of the four family situations described in the article—LAT, married, living common law, or living alone. The factors taken into account include sex, age, education level, personal income, having experienced a separation or divorce, immigrant status, weekly religious-service attendance, and place of residence (see Table A.1).

While age is certainly an explanatory factor, other factors are also associated with a higher probability of being in a LAT couple. Men and women who had experienced at least one divorce or separation in the past, especially if they were living with a child from a previous relationship, were considerably more likely to enter into a LAT relationship than those who had never had such an experience. Some separated or divorced people chose to be in a LAT relationship to maintain their independence and avoid falling into habits that they associated with their previous relationships.Note3 Among those with children, the decision to live together would have even more consequences since it would result in the creation of a blended family. People with a higher level of education were also more likely to be in a LAT relationship.

In contrast, people who attended religious meetings or services at least once a week and recent immigrants were slightly less inclined than others to be in a LAT couple. These findings align with those from other studies showing that moral or cultural values are sometimes associated with the acceptability of non-cohabiting intimate relationships.

Table A.1
Predicted probability of relationship type, multinomial logistic model, 2011
Table summary
This table displays the results of predicted probability of relationship type in a lat couple, living common law, married and no partner, calculated using predicted probability units of measure (appearing as column headers).
In a LATNote 1 couple Living common law Married No partner
predicted probability
Sex  
Men 0.053 0.100 0.605 0.242
Women 0.054 0.104 0.566 0.276
Age  
20 to 24 0.368 0.094 0.027 0.511
25 to 29 0.188 0.235 0.237 0.339
30 to 39 0.048 0.167 0.630 0.156
40 to 49 0.032 0.097 0.733 0.137
50 to 59 0.025 0.069 0.750 0.156
60 to 69 0.019 0.041 0.777 0.163
70 and over 0.022 0.023 0.540 0.415
Attended mass or religious assembly at least once a week  
No 0.056 0.125 0.564 0.255
Yes 0.042 0.038 0.656 0.263
Highest level of education  
Less than a high school diploma 0.037 0.131 0.530 0.302
High school diploma 0.050 0.099 0.571 0.280
College diploma or trades certificate 0.056 0.099 0.611 0.234
University degree 0.069 0.094 0.597 0.240
Income  
Less than $20,000 0.054 0.079 0.553 0.314
$20,000 to $39,999 0.059 0.112 0.528 0.301
$40,000 to $59,999 0.061 0.127 0.560 0.252
$60,000 to $99,999 0.052 0.110 0.641 0.197
$100,000 or more 0.032 0.099 0.741 0.128
No data 0.049 0.088 0.602 0.261
At least one separation or divorce  
No 0.035 0.076 0.702 0.187
Yes 0.112 0.175 0.313 0.400
Yes and living with a child from a previous relationship 0.136 0.099 0.130 0.635
Immigrant status  
Recent immigrant (1996 to 2011) 0.016 0.040 0.789 0.155
Established immigrant (before 1996) 0.069 0.066 0.595 0.270
Canadian-born/Canadian citizens by birth 0.058 0.118 0.557 0.267
Quebec resident  
No 0.053 0.077 0.620 0.251
Yes 0.054 0.232 0.450 0.265
1. Living apart together.
Note: The predicted probabilities were calculated based on the multinomial logistic model. To calculate the predicted probabilities, the average values of the covariables were used in the analytical sample. The predicted probabilities are 0, meaning there is no chance the individual is in a relationship, or 1, meaning than an individual with certain characteristics has a 100% chance of being in a relationship.
Source: Statistics Canada, General Social Survey, 2011.

Notes

  1. See Milan and Peters (2003).
  2. The 2011 Census, for example, reported 64,575 same-sex couples, up considerably from 2006 (42%) (Statistics Canada 2012). In 2011, there may have been a slight overestimate of the number of people in a same-sex couple, due to a change in the way couples are counted (the overestimate could be as much as 4,500 Canada-wide).
  3. See Haskey and Lewis (2006).
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