Aura Zahra Pamungkas 

Social Welfare Department, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Jember, Jember, East Java, Indonesia 

Akhmad Munif Mubarok 

Social Welfare Department, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Jember, Jember, East Java, Indonesia 

DOI: 

ABSTRACT 

Cohabitation, defined as living together without legal marriage, has become a normalized phenomenon among some university students in Sumbersari, Jember Regency. This normalization is influenced by various factors, including a permissive social environment, emotional attachment, and practical considerations such as cost efficiency. However, cohabitation remains socially consequential, often leading to negative stigma and social exclusion. This study aims to explore the reasons driving students to normalize cohabitation and to analyze its impact on their social functioning. This research employs a qualitative method with a phenomenological approach. Informants were selected using snowball sampling, and data were collected through in-depth interviews, non-participant observation, and documentation. The data analysis process involved data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion verification. The findings indicate that students normalize cohabitation due to social environmental influences, emotional needs, and practical considerations. The impact on their social functioning varies, ranging from academic performance issues and changes in social interactions to emotional dependency. In conclusion, the normalization of cohabitation is a complex social phenomenon with diverse effects on individual social functioning     

Keywords: cohabitation, students, normalization behaviour, social function.