Does Premarital Cohabitation Predict SubsequentMarital Stability and Marital Quality?A Meta-Analysis Cohabitation with a romantic partner has become common in recent decades. This metaanalysis examined the link between premarital cohabitation and marital stability ( k = 16) and marital quality ( k = 12). Cohabitation had a significant negative association with both marital stability and marital quality. The negative predictive effect on marital stability, however, did not remain when only cohabitation with the eventual marital partner was analyzed, suggesting that these cohabitors may attach more long-term meaning to living together. Moderator analyses demonstrated that effects of cohabitation have remained consistent over time, despite the fact that cohabitation has become more normative.Although premarital cohabitation may have been viewed as scandalous a few decades ago, it has become much more socially acceptable for individuals in close relationships. For instance, about 500,000 individuals were living with their romantic partner in 1970 (Brown, 2004b). Only 30 years later, however, about 10 times as many people (4.9 million) were living with Department of Psychology, SUNY Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794 (anita.jose@sunysb.edu).