UVic Studies "Living Apart But Together" Relationships

Researchers at the University of Victoria are studying long-term, committed intimate relationships between partners who decide to live in separate homes. These “living apart together” (LAT) relationships are increasing, but we know little about them in Canada. As a non-traditional family form, LATs have implications for policy and research definitions of family. Dr. Karen Kobayashi (of UVic’s Centre on Aging and Department of Sociology) and Dr. Laura Funk (formerly of the Centre on Aging but who now works at the Department of Sociology at the University of Manitoba) are interested in how LAT relationships are experienced for those involved, why couples choose them, and what challenges and benefits are associated with them. The researchers are looking to interview participants in the Victoria or Vancouver areas who have been in a LAT (separate residence) relationship for at least five years. Participants must be 25 years or older; both opposite and same-sex couples will be included. “Loving the Distance Between: Living Apart Together Relationships” began in May 2011 and runs to May 2012. It is funded by a Social Sciences and Humanties Research Council Internal Research Grant from UVic. If you would like to take part in the study or for more information, please call 250-721-7574 or email kmkobay@uvic.ca.
 

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