Marriage is Weakening in America

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

30 Dec 2008 12:07 PM

I just read an interesting report put out by the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University. Each year, they release a State of the Union about the health of marriage in the United States. While the won't release on for 2008 until the year is over, I thought it might be interesting to discuss the findings for 2007.

David Popenoe wrote the essay for 2007's report. In it, he talks about how the U.S. is following the trends of European nations toward nonmarriage. There is a continuing cultural shift away from traditional marriage as the primary social institute of family life. Most adults today do not necessarily believe that personal happiness and long-term commitments to children require the stability of marriage. (Actually, another report done by the project points to fact that we seem to be moving toward relationships without children. In fact, although we are holding a birth rate that essentially replaces our selves--neither shrinking nor growing--this is due mostly to an influx of immigrants to the country, rather than a stable population through birth alone.

In his essay, Popenoe says,

"There can be no doubt that the institution of marriage has continued to weaken in recent years. Whereas marriage was once the dominant and single acceptable form of living arrangement for couples and children, it is no longer. Today, there is more "family diversity:" Fewer adults are married, more are divorced or remaining single, and more are living together outside of marriage or living alone. Today, more children are born out-of-wedlock (now almost four out of ten), and more are living in stepfamilies, with cohabiting but unmarried adults, or with a single parent."

Some other interesting data and conclusions in the report include a growing marriage and divorce gap among segments of the population based on education. You are more likely to be married and stay married if you have a college education, verses not having a high school diploma. The divorce rate for college educated adults has actually declined in recent years.

The three biggest factors, other than education, in staying married seem to be an income above $50,000, having a baby seven or more months after marriage (as opposed to having one earlier) and marrying after the age of 25. Religious affiliation and having parents that didn't divorce didn't seem as large of an influence.

To check out the Marriage Project for youself, visit http://marriage.rutgers.edu/

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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