ABSTRACT
As a follow-up to the survey, intensive interviews were conducted with 16 'single' people and 25 couples. The intensive couple interviews were largely conducted with couples in their late twenties, among whom the married predominate. Couples were interviewed together but in two cases one partner was absent for all or most of the interview. 17 intensive interviews were conducted with married couples, 12 had lived together before marriage and five had not. 12 of the married couples had children at the time of interview. Eight intensive interviews were conducted with cohabiting couples, seven of whom had children.6 All couples were interviewed by Robert Stewart. This paper draws on both the survey and these intensive interviews which are referred to by pseudonyms.7 The paper is organised by interweaving the survey data and material from the intensive interviews.
