Why are cohabiting couples more likely to divorce?

Research shows that couples that cohabit before marriage are more likely to be dissatisfied in their marriages and are more likely to divorce.

I don’t have links to this research to provide you, but it’s not hard to find. It’s in every single psychology textbook I’ve ever seen that has a section on marriage, so it seems to be pretty well-researched.

Why do you think this is?

It seems, at least on the surface, that determining you can live with your SO prior to marriage would improve the chances of your marriage surviving. Spending a lot of time with someone is great, but you never really know what it’s like to live with them until you do.

Try as I might, I can’t imagine why living together beforehand would negatively affect a marriage. So, that’s where you come in. Educate me. :)