Catholic World News
Study documents decline of marriage in US
November 19, 2010
A new study by the Pew Research Center documents the decline of marriage and the increasing acceptance of cohabitation in the United States.
The study finds that 39% of Americans believe marriage is becoming obsolete. Among the other key findings:
- in 2008, 52% of adults were married (vs. 72% in 1960)
- in 2008, 26% of adults in their 20s were married (vs. 68% in 1960)
- only 32% of Americans believe that premarital sex is wrong (vs. 68% in 1969)
- 63% of Americans believe that a same-sex couple with children is a family
- 60% of mothers with children under three are in the labor force (vs. 34% in 1975)
- 41% of babies born in 2008 were born to unmarried mothers (vs. 5% in 1960)
- 29% of children under 18 live with parents who are not married (vs. 6% in 1960).
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Further information:
- The Decline of Marriage and Rise of New Families (Pew Research Center)
- Four in 10 say marriage is becoming obsolete (AP)
- The First Vocation Crisis (Catholic World Report)
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