Fifty-five percent of respondents reported that their most recent sexual partner was an exclusive dating partner, while 25% said their last partner was a fiance(e), spouse or spousal equivalent. Twelve percent reported that their last partner was a close but not exclusive partner, and 8% said the partner was a casual acquaintance.
Women whose most recent sex partner was a fiance, spouse or spousal equivalent reported fewer depressive symptoms than those whose last partner was an exclusive dating partner (11.6 vs.
Source: The spousal equivalent hand book: A Legal and Financial Guide to Living Together by Johnette Duff and George G.
Spousal equivalents are not just "POSSLQs"- persons of the opposite sex sharing living quarters - but are defined as two people (either the opposite sex or the same sex) who live together, have a sexual relationship, and do not have a marriage license or the legal rights and responsibilities it entails.
Despite their commitment to one another, spousal equivalents cannot assume that they have the same rights and privileges afforded marital partners.
"Spousal equivalents have been granted some of these rights, in some places,' note Duff and Truitt.
"As society changes its economic and social makeup, public policy interests must also change, " write Duff and Truitt, whose experiences as spousal equivalents prompted them to write this guidebook to help others find answers to murky - and continually changing - legal questions.
