Optimistic about Future of Marriage
Despite large changes in family structure and formation rates, the public maintains a strongly positive view about marriage and the family.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Despite large changes in family structure and formation rates, the public maintains a strongly positive view about marriage and the family.
Three-quarters of adults say they are very satisfied with their family life; 19% are somewhat satisfied.
Among Americans who have ever lived with an unmarried partner, nearly two-thirds say they thought about it as a step toward marriage.
A plurality of Americans (43%) disapprove of gay and lesbian couples raising children, but that number has declined from 50% in 2007.
More than nine-in-ten married people say that love is a very important reason to marry while only about three-in-ten cite financial stability as an important factor. The data suggest otherwise.
Throughout human history, poets, balladeers and songwriters have celebrated the idea that there’s just one true love for every living soul. Only 28% of today’s Americans agree.
Majorities or pluralities of Americans think the country is losing ground on nine of 12 major issues.
Jobs remain the public’s primary economic concern, and given the pessimism about job availability, it’s not hard to see why.
Just a quarter of the public knows that it takes 60 votes to break a filibuster in the Senate.
Senior research staff answer questions from readers relating to all the areas covered by our seven projects, ranging from polling techniques and findings, to media, technology, religious, demographic and global attitudes trends.
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