In the context of increasingly diverse partnership arrangements—especially the rise of cohabitation—the study emphasizes that these forms should not be treated as uniform. In addition to marriage, it distinguishes between cohabitation with plans to marry and cohabitation without such plans, which differ in stability and social meaning.
The analysis shows that individuals in cohabitation who plan to marry are most likely to intend to have a child within the next three years. In contrast, those in cohabitation without plans to marry report such intentions less frequently.
The research goes beyond intentions to examine whether these plans are fulfilled. While partnership type significantly affects who plans to have children, the results indicate that it plays a much smaller role in determining whether those plans are realized.
Instead, the strength of the initial intention proves crucial: strong intentions increase the likelihood of realization regardless of whether individuals are married or cohabiting.
Despite ongoing changes in partnership trajectories, the proportion of people planning to have a child in the short term remains relatively stable in the Czech Republic. At the same time, the structure of partnerships is shifting, with cohabitation—both with and without plans for marriage—becoming more common.
The findings point to an important asymmetry: partnership type matters for the formation of reproductive intentions but less for their realization. This suggests that partnership context primarily shapes motivations and decision-making processes, while the actual realization of plans depends on other factors.
Overall, the study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the link between partnership forms and reproductive behaviour and underscores the importance of differentiating between types of partnerships in demographic research.
The research was conducted as part of the project “On Our Own: Opportunities and Risks in the Individualization of Society (PRINS),” co-financed by the European Union. Eva Waldaufová is affiliated with the Faculty of Science, Charles University.
Changes in partnership patterns across Europe affect not only individual life trajectories but also the functioning of family solidarity. Research by Veronika Sofia Corradi‑Eiger from the Faculty of Social Studies at Masaryk University focuses on how adult children’s partnership histories shape their access to parental support. The findings were presented at the European Population Conference 2026 in Bologna.
