Marriage. Marital status continues to change. Marriage rate has declined since 1950 Birth rate has declined since 1950

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2 Marital status continues to change Marriage rate has declined since 1950 Birth rate has declined since s saw an acceleration Doubled between Declined since 1975 Divorce rate has increased since 1950

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4 Marriage rate (18 and older) 55% for men 50% for women Median age for first marriage 28 for men 26 for women Median duration for marriage 18 years

5 Marriage 1 in 21 Americans who have ever been married have been married three or more times Midwest and Mountain region highest share of men and women who are married Iowa: 56% of men, 55% of women

6 Correlates (2008) State s educational level is associated with median age at marriage and multiplemarriage patterns. States with low shares of college-educated adults, adults are more likely to marry 3 or more times. States with low income levels, men are more likely to marry 3 or more times.

7 Correlates (2008) States with high shares of Democratic votes had lower shares of currently married residents, lower shares of adults married 3 or more times and low rates of marriages in past year. No correlation with divorce statistics (share of divorces adults, rates in past year or socioeconomic indicators.

8 Correlates State religiosity and marriage/divorce rates No correlation between a state s religiosity and marriage/divorce patterns.

9 Marriage as a social institution Social institution: individuals, occupying defined statuses, are regulated by social norms, public opinion, law and religion. The wedding is utilized as a rite of passage into institutionalized family roles which can be monitored by in-laws and extended kin.

10 Marriage as a social institution Involves the joining of individuals and kinship groups where historically: involved increasing the family labor force involved the marriage premise Expectation of permanence Expectation of monogamy

11 Positive reasons for marriage: Love and companionship Children Adult identity Commitment and personal fulfillment Continuity and permanence

12 Negative reasons Social legitimacy Social pressure Economic security Rebellion and revenge Practical solutions to problems

13 Types of marriages (the shift from institutionalized marriage) Institutionalized: adherence to the marriage premise Offers practical and economic security Rewards associated with custom and tradition

14 Types of marriages (the shift from institutionalized marriage) Companionate marriage Combines traditional gender roles with emotional satisfaction as a trait of successful marriage 1950 s successful marriage/satisfaction was based on how well each person fulfilled their roles 1960 s and 70 s there was a shift to the emotional and personal satisfaction in a marriage

15 Individualized Marriage Seen as optional Roles are flexible Rewards involve love, communication and intimacy Exists within a diversity of family forms

16 & Communication Characteristics of a successful marriage: Compatibility Flexibility Positive attitudes Communication and conflict resolution Emotional support

17 & Communication Marriage throughout the life course: Early years include role adjustment and putting the relationship in the forefront. Children changes the dynamic and focus, marital satisfaction often decreases and conflicts can increase.

18 & Communication Marriage throughout the life course: Marriage at midlife: Intergenerational ties can place stress and strain on relationships Challenges with in-laws Empty nest syndrome, sandwich and boomerang generation

19 & Communication Marriage throughout the lifecourse: Marriage in later life Retirement may impact roles Health and well-being impacts quality

20 Does Marriage Matter Research has shown (Waite) that spouses Have greater wealth and assets Earned higher wages Have more frequent and better sex Have overall better health Less likely to engage in risk-taking More likely to engage in dangerous risk taking Have lower rates of substance abuse More likely to engage in generally healthy behaviors

21 Does Marriage Matter Research has shown (Waite) that children Half as likely to drop-out Reported more frequent contact and better quality relationships with parents Significantly less likely to live in poverty

22 Experience hypothesis: The experience of being married itself causes the benefits

23 Research also shows that the association between positive outcomes and marriage is more complex. Selection hypothesis: benefits associated with marriage are due to the personal characteristics of those who choose to marry.

24 Selection hypothesis For example: Married women are more likely to inherit wealth this precedes getting married.

25 Research also shows that how marriage is defined impacts findings for children. Two biologically, continuously married parents vs. stepfamilies Transitions to and from various family structures result in poorer outcomes. Poverty plays a factor Father involvement Numerous other factors: neighborhood, involvement in activities, etc.

26 Policy implications: Policy is developed based on the perspective Marital change perspective: family struggle results from structural conditions Decline perspective: changes are due to family breakdown involving culture, values and attitudes.

27 Marital change: remedies focus on support for families Education (student loans and interest rates) Job training and job opportunities Health care reform

28 Family decline perspective: focuses on returning society to companionate marriage Covenant marriage laws: makes divorce more difficult: Agree to pre-marital counseling, can only divorce after two years of separation Healthy marriage initiative for welfare recipients