Marry Young, Be Happy? New Study

The full data is here. Well worth taking a look at. And Norval Glenn is one of ourmost distinguished family sociologists. Maggie

"Marry young, be happy? Early to wed may make marriage happy, survey says"

By Sharon Jayson, USA TODAY

Americans are waiting longer to get married, but they shouldn't wait too
long: The odds for a happy marriage may favor those who tie the knot between
the ages of 23 and 27, says a survey out Thursday.

The average age at first marriage in the USA has been inching upward; it's
now 26 for women and 27 for men.

The survey asked a variety of questions about marriage and divorce,
including attitudes toward cohabitation and raising children. Eighty-eight
percent of respondents said marriage should be a lifelong commitment.

The survey was designed and analyzed by University of Texas sociology
professor Norval Glenn for the National Fatherhood Initiative, which
advocates marriage and family values.

To determine marital satisfaction and success, Glenn says, the answers to a
series of questions were calculated according to a statistical index,
including adjustments for the length of marriages as well as the age at
first marriage.

Findings shouldn't create panic among those approaching 30, he says. "Those
marriages turned out better but maybe not because of the age," he says.
"Some people may be just too picky or too choosy or not extremely
desirable."

Other researchers worry that the findings, based on a 15-minute national
telephone survey of 1,503 men and women ages 18 and older in late 2003 and
early 2004, may alarm those unattached and marriage-minded.

"The last thing you want is to have them take this as a rule," says
Stephanie Coontz, a professor of history and family studies at Evergreen
State College in Olympia, Wash. "If you're in a good relationship and if you
want to marry, there's no reason to postpone it."

Andrew Cherlin, a professor of sociology and public policy at Johns Hopkins
University in Baltimore, says marrying too young or too old carries a
greater risk of divorce. But now, "as people wait longer and longer to
marry, the definition of what's too old keeps changing." . . .
posted by maggie at 11:50 AM | link

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