Social Distance and Relationship Progression

Sharon Sassler, Cornell University
Kara Joyner, Cornell University

For the majority of contemporary young adults, sexual intimacy is no longer reserved for marriage. Much research has confirmed class and race differences in age at entrance into sexual unions and the timing of marriage and parenting. Yet little is known about determinants associated with initial formation and progression of relationships. This paper examines relationship progression, asking whether relationship tempos differ for racially homogamous and heterogamous couples. Data are from 18- to 25-year-olds from the Add Health and the National Survey of Family Growth with recent opposite-sex partners. Results from Cox proportional hazards models reveal that white men’s and women’s progression into sex is significantly more rapid when partners are racial minorities than when they are white; gender differences emerge once controls for individual and family characteristics are included. Progression into cohabiting unions differ for mixed-race and homogamous couples, but the tempo slows and gender differences persist.