AMANDA REPORTS: Do Young Adults Still Believe in Marriage?

(567 Words) — Young adults say marriage is important to them, yet they still wait longer to marry than previous generations and frequently express uncertainty about the prospect of raising children, according to new research from the Barna Group.

The analysis conducted by the Fort Worth, Texas-based Barna Group is part of its State of Today’s Family project and it found that most Gen Zers and Millennials hope to marry, but want to wait longer before tying the knot. They also express significant uncertainty about having children.

Gen Zers were born between the years 1997 and 2012, while Millennials entered the world in the years from 1981 to 1996. Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964, while Elders came between 1928 and 1945.

The choice of delaying marriage and raising a family has increased steadily among the last five generations, calling attention to an alarming trend of whether today’s young adults still believe in marriage and family.

The Barna Group surveyed 3, 508 adults aged 18 and older in the United States. The report entitled “Do Young Adults Still Believe in Marriage?” shows that 81 percent of Gen Zers value marriage but are also most likely to say marriage is important for raising children at a significantly lower 67 percent.

“The delay appears to reflect a shift in how young adults approach commitment. Rather than moving quickly toward marriage, many seem to be placing greater weight on emotional readiness, financial stability, and the long-term viability of a relationship before deciding to marry,” Barna says.

Analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data conducted by the Pew Research Center shows young adults reach major life markers of adulthood much later than their predecessors. Milestones such as full-time employment, financial and living independence, marriage and parenthood are reached later than those of young adults 40 years prior.

“By age 25, the financial differences between young adults today and those in 1980 are narrower but still statistically significant. About two-thirds of 25-year-olds (66 percent) were working full time in 2021, compared with 73 percent in 1980. And 60 percent were financially independent in 2021, compared with 63 percent in 1980,” Pew research reported.

Though Barna survey answers suggest the last several generations mostly agree on views toward marriage, answers to “I believe in the value of marriage” survey question show a near whopping 20 percent difference between Gen Z and Elders.

Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers and Elders, Gen Z has the most negative view toward marriage and family. Positive views toward marriage and family declined with each new generation.

Barna’s research revealed differences between today’s young people and previous generations their age that suggest reasons for the current stall on commitment to marriage and family:

“Rising costs of housing, education, and daily life likely add to that calculus, making the timing of marriage feel consequential in a way it may not have for earlier generations.”

In a Daily Signal article, Focus on the Family Vice-President Timothy Goeglein further suggests causes for such differences between generational views toward marriage and family. In his recently published book, “What Really Matters: Restoring a Legacy of Faith, Family, and Freedom,”  Goeglein contends that cultural decline points to the urgent need to restore marriage and family as societal foundations.

“As a patriot, I love our nation, the freest and greatest nation ever devised. Because I love my nation so much, it grieves me when we have seemingly lost our way. This is particularly true when it comes to marriage, family, faith, and education, foundations upon which our country was built, ” Goeglein wrote.