General Social Survey - Family (GSS)

Conjugal status of census family, category

Conjugal status refers to the nature of the relationship between the members of a couple. Specifically, it indicates whether the members of a couple are either legally married to each other or living in a common-law relationship.

Census family is defined as a married couple and the children, if any, of either and/or both spouses; a couple living common law and the children, if any, of either and/or both partners; or a lone parent of any marital status with at least one child living in the same dwelling and that child or those children. All members of a particular census family live in the same dwelling. A couple may be of opposite or same sex. Children may be children by birth, marriage, common-law union or adoption regardless of their age or marital status as long as they live in the dwelling and do not have their own married spouse, common-law partner or child living in the dwelling. Grandchildren living with their grandparent(s) but with no parents present also constitute a census family.

The data for this variable are reported using the following classifications and/or lists:

• Type of union of couple