Millennials & Marriage Rates 1

Millennials & Marriage Rates

Holly Gerard

University of Maine Augusta

Senior Capstone Course

Dr. Ken Elliott

May 2017
Millennials & Marriage Rates 2

Abstract

The Millennial generation (those aged 17-35 in the year 2017) have

shown a decrease in marriage rates as compared to their parents

generation, a 21% drop according to Wang & Taylor in a 2011 study. If and

when Millennials are marrying, it is at a later age than previous generations.

In 1960, the median age of a first marriage in the United States was 23 for

men and 21 for women (Wang & Taylor, 2011). The average age for Millennial

marriage is 27 for women and 29 for men (Wang & Parker, 2014). This social

phenomenon is cause for concern.

Some claim that marriage is a necessity for society to blossom but the real

problem could lie in policy. Tax benefits, estate planning benefits, some

government program benefits, employment and medical benefits tend to

favor married couples. If the institution of marriage is on the way out, these

benefits will need adjusting to help societal balance.

Several factors behind the decline in marriage rates were examined in

this study. Quantitative methods were used to find correlations through

existing data analysis followed by qualitative interviews to confirm and/or

discover new theory as well as add depth to existing theory. Major categories

of correlation included marriage and children, economics, the pursuit of the

ideal spouse, education and career betterment, the effects of parents divorce

on the perspective of marriage, changing gender roles, cynicism, and media

and technological effects. 17 participants were interviewed, 8 females and 9

males. Themes of financial instability, prioritizing education, negative

Millennials & Marriage Rates 3

attitudes toward marriage due to parental divorce, technologys negative

effect on relationships, and changing gender roles were confirmed in this

study. Conflicting evidence from interviews found that participants thought

marriage played a crucial role in raising children. A previous survey stated

that there is a changing cultural view that single or unmarried parenthood is

just as effective as married couple parenthood (Wang, 2011). Based on

evidence found, the overall conclusion is that Millennials do want marriage,

they just want to be certain that they are well-prepared (whether

economically or psychologically) and choose the right one. This is a small

study with many limitations (listed in Methods sections), while confirm of

existing quantitative theory makes generalizability strong, new inferences

need further investigation.

Millennials & Marriage Rates 4

Introduction

Although a 2014 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found

that Millennials still have a desire to marry, rates have fallen considerably in

comparison to prior generations. Even those who have reported that they

would like to eventually marry is somewhat down from 61% in 2010 to 53%

in 2014 (Wang & Parker, 2014). The National Marriage Project reports that

the average age for marrying is higher than ever, 27 for women and 29 for

men. In 1960, the median age of a first marriage in the United States was 23

for men and 21 for women (Wang & Taylor, 2011). In 2012, one-in-five adults

ages 25 and older (around 42 million individuals) had never been married. In

1960, only about one-in-ten adult (9%) in that age range had never been

married. Research indicates an overall 21% drop in marriage rates from 1960

to 2011 (Wang & Taylor, 2011). If current rates persist, 25% of adults aged

25-34 will not marry by 2030 (Wang & Parker, 2014). What are the possible

forces driving this trend? While anecdotal arguments are abundant,

evidence-based theories on why this phenomenon is occurring are limited in

number and lack diversity. Existing principle theories point mostly toward

economics. The inability to thrive in supporting oneself, the cost of marriage

and also the idea of a possible pricey divorce have been identified as
Millennials & Marriage Rates 5

deterrents of marriage. The change of gender roles and education enrollment

as well as cultural views of marriage have also been distinguished as factors.

These theories have been supported predominately by quantitative research

in the forms of survey and census data. As such research has relied on a

quantitative approach, the decision to take a qualitative approach to conduct

original research seemed appropriate to round out existing studies. A

pragmatic worldview is used as it gives the freedom to choose which

methods, techniques, and procedures best fit the research question, as well

as different worldviews, assumptions, and forms of data collection and

analysis (Creswell, 2014). Data will be collected qualitatively in interviews

and also quantitatively by analyzing exist documents relevant to the topic.

This serves to provide a more complete understanding of the research

question.

This study is the culmination of my learning in the realm of the social

sciences. I have exercised my gained knowledge in research design and

competency in scientific literacy. My demonstration of this is beneficial to my

future in showing that I am able to conduct formal research and may aid in

further studies I conduct in graduate school. The study will be displayed in an

ePortfolio in hopes that it may add to existing theory on the topic as well as

help those who wish to implement new studies. Further studies on the trend

may be useful in changing policy. As it is today, marital status directly affects

policies and programs such as tax rates, eligibility for entitlement programs,

and the availability of social safety nets. A rapidly growing single population
Millennials & Marriage Rates 6

will bring significant changes in the needs, costs, and opportunities of many

policies and programs-changes our nation can adapt to more successfully if it

anticipates them (Martin et al., 2014). Support for both single-parent

families and marriage could be a problem. In a society divided between the

still mostly married haves and the increasingly single have-nots, policies

and safety net programs for poor families and individuals must efficiently

target the needs of the unmarried poor without disincentivizing marriage for

those among the poor who would still marry (Martin et al., 2014). Future

marriage trends are likely to make this challenge more difficult. The following

report contains a detailed description of the research design and methods

used to collect data, a literature review critiquing the most pertinent theories

on Millennials and marriage as well as an analysis of data collected. A

discussion and conclusions section will draw this report to a close. A

reference section will be available on the last page.

Research Design and Methods

The purpose of research is to better understand underlying factors

driving a changing trend in marriage rates. As previously mentioned, the

trend is most prominent in the Millennial generation. The type of research

being conducting falls under explanatory sequential mixed methods.

Existing quantitative data was collected and analyzed. Quantitative data may

not capture patterns that are not obvious so qualitative interviews were

performed and analyzed to discover different patterns and/or confirm

Millennials & Marriage Rates 7

findings from the previously collected data. The formal goals are to describe

Millennials attitudes about marriage and to identify social, economic and

psychological trends that are behind the falling marriage rate.

Millennials (also known as Generation Y, Generation Me, and Echo

Boomers) are the demographic following Generation X. The dates of this

cohort are not precisely set but demographers and researchers typically use

the early 1980s as a start birth year and ending birth years in the mid-1990s

to early-2000s. For the purposes of this study, the term Millennial refers to

those born between the years 1981 and 2000. As of the current date, that

includes those aged 17 to age 35. Marriage, also called matrimony or

wedlock, is a socially or ritually recognized union between spouses that

establishes rights and obligations between them, between them and their

children, and between them and their in-laws (Haviland, 2011). For the

purposes of this study, marriage will be seen as a state recognized union of

two individuals. The study focuses on those individuals who are not married.

They can include those who are in a relationship, monogamous or not, as

well as those who do not have a partner.

Several forms of data were collected. Existing data that was collected

and analyzed were statistics on divorce rates, statistics on the past and

current economics in the U.S., statistics on rates of religion, statistics on

college enrollment, statistics on and related to women in the workplace and

change of gender roles, employment rates, and rates of individuals still living

in their parents homes. Structured interviews were conducted in person as

Millennials & Marriage Rates 8

well as via e-mail. For interviews, a non-probability purposive sample was

taken. A purposive sample is best since a specific demographic is being

studied. There were 17 participants interviewed. Out of the 17 participants, 8

are female and 9 are male. The mean age of participants is 28 years old.

Those in their mid to late 2os that are still not married have passed the age

prior generations have married and best fit the purpose of the research

inquiry. During data analysis of interviews, emerging empirical patterns were

documented. Data was then reduced to portions that represented patterns

then reanalyzed and categorized. These categories were then compared

against the previously collected quantitative data. The interview protocol

was designed to help participants focus on relevant topics. Interview

questions are provided below. Most interviews flowed in this sequence but

some had a different flow as whatever felt natural to ask next depending on

the response given.

Interview Protocol:

1. Establish consent
2. Bring awareness of privacy and anonymity
3. Inform participants that they may omit questions if they feel uncomfortable
4. Begin interview
5. Thank participants and give them the option to read research conclusions at

the time of release

Focus Questions:

What is your age?

Millennials & Marriage Rates 9

Have you ever been married before?

Have you ever been engaged?

What do you think about marriage?

How important is marriage in raising children?

Has birth control and the worry of pregnancy had any effect on your thoughts

of marriage?

What do you think about societys perception of marriage?

Has societys perception of marriage and the social clock taken pressure off

of you?

How do you think marriage changes a relationship?

How do you feel economics (being a good financial standing) affects being

ready to get married?

Do you feel that you are putting marriage off to save money?

Are you worried that the possibility of getting a divorce may be too costly?

Are you currently living with your parents?

If youre currently living with your parents, how does this affect any plans for

marriage?

Has the decision to further your education/career made you decided to put

off marriage?

Have you found it difficult to find a partner who has all the qualities you find

ideal?

Did you grow up in a religious family?

How does religion play a role in your view of marriage?

Millennials & Marriage Rates 10

Are your parents divorced?

How do you think your parents relationship affected your view of marriage?

How have your past relationships helped to form your attitude toward future

ones?

Do you have friends or other relatives that are married and have made an

impression on you? Please describe.

How does a hook up culture affect you or close friends?

How do you think the medias (television, magazines, etc.) portrayal of

marriage affects you and your generations perspective on marriage?

Are there any other reasons you feel may have caused you to put marriage

off that we have not discussed?

Ethical Considerations: As a researcher using the involvement of

participants it is a duty to ensure the privacy and anonymity of participants.

Personally identifying characteristics are not to be published. All information

released is pertaining solely to the gender of participants and their answers

to interview questions. Prior to interview all participants were informed of the

studys purpose as well as the fact that their responses would be published

in a research document open to the public. Participants were then asked if

they would like to provide information for the study. Subjects under the age

of 18 were not used. Participants were told that there is an understanding

that some of the questions may be too personal and if one felt

uncomfortable omitting the question would be acceptable. Once the

collected interview data was analyzed, raw documentation was deleted or

Millennials & Marriage Rates 11

shredded. All findings will be reported to maintain an unbiased account of

the data collection.

Limitations: Unfortunately, several limitations exist in this study. The

largest limitation may be the scale of the study. Generalizability may be

difficult as sample size is small. Access to data was an issue. Many articles

scholarly articles are not accessible through the University of Maine and

some require payment or membership. The lack of available data to review

and also analyze could possibly skew results and/or conclusions. As an

undergraduate student, knowledge of research design and methods is

limited. A thorough, rigorous approach may not be present under these

circumstances. Research can take years to develop. Three months was the

time constraint on this study. Given more time, numerous interviews would

be conducted and more existing data analysis would occur to further solidify

or alter conclusions. Purposive sampling was mandatory as a specific target

population was called for. Those interviewed were acquaintances of the

researcher. Thus, group homogeneity could occur. Answers may not be

representative of the target population as there are so few interviews and

the information is coming from a related group. This may or may not be

necessarily true but still must be addressed as a possible skew of evidence.

Interviews questions are to be open-ended in qualitative research. Crafting

an interview protocol consisting of all open-ended questions proved difficult.

Reading theory prior to interview protocol construction led to more specific

question with the intent to prove or disprove. This intent is part of the study
Millennials & Marriage Rates 12

but, again, only part. The intent was also to gain other insights into the

research question as well and possibly discover new trends. In hindsight,

wording of interview questions may have led participants to certain ideas

and also caused a blockage in receiving more in-depth answers. Interviews

conducting through e-mail, although convenient, led to an inability to directly

follow-up on questions in the moment and a lack of visibility to judge tone.

There is also a question of honesty and awareness. Participants may not

answer questions truthfully. They may also not have a full awareness of their

reasoning. As a researcher, biases must be addressed. Especially in

qualitative research. I fit the demographic of the population and have my

own opinion on the research questions. My experience and background

shapes the way data will be interpreted, I am obligated to acknowledge this

aspect of research. Success in this research is to confirm existing theories

and also discover undiscussed factors.

Literature Review and Data Analysis

Legitimate theories on why Millennials are opting out of marriage or

waiting are surprisingly not very diverse. Economic stability is the most

widely tested theory on the issue. A recent quantitative studys proposal

[relied] on the increased labor income volatility observed [over the last 40

years] (Santos & Weiss, 2016). Gould and Paserman support this assertion

and add that wage inequality explains approximately 25% of the marriage

rate decline in cities of the U.S. over the last few decades (Gould &
Millennials & Marriage Rates 13

Paserman, 2003). While the fraction of Americans currently married has

declined substantially since 1960 at all levels of education, the decline is

especially pronounced among the less educated (Lundberg, 2016). The data

shows that the marriage rates of college graduates are much more stable.

With remaining cohorts, cohabitation has seemed to take the place of

marriage. Lundbergs study on the phenomena has its limitations.

Admittedly, tracking changes in cohabitation over time is difficult because

high-quality, population-representative data on unmarried couples is

available only for recent cohorts (Lundberg, 2016). The study goes on to

describe the difference between marriage and cohabitation in an

economically meaningful way as being the costs of dissolution. In a

marriage costs are much higher. Ending a marriage involves legal

formalities and child arrangements. Cohabitating relationships can end in

a less complicated manner. Underlying forces applying to couples of all

educational backgrounds seemed to have underlying forces that led to a

reduced demand for long-term commitment decreased gender specialization

and a shift from production-based marital surplus.

The idea of a marriageable man, one who has demonstrated their

ability to be good (enough) providers for a family has been empirically linked

to their transition to marriage (Oppenheimer, Kalmijn, & Lim, 1997). This

hypothesis can explain the decline in marriage for those who are

disadvantaged.
Millennials & Marriage Rates 14

Ethnographic work in severely disadvantaged communities suggests

that some mens economic prospects are so dire, due to a combination

of low skills, labor market discrimination, criminal records, and

substance abuse, that they are unable to make a positive contribution

to a household (Edin and Nelson, 2013). But a purely economic version

of the marriageable men hypothesis cannot explain the falling

marriage rate among men and women with some college. To explain

the broad retreat from marriage in terms of the shortage of

marriageable men requires a powerful role for norms defining gender

roles. (Lundberg, 2016)

The high cost of living and higher education as well as the relative

affluence of older generations is a driving factor. Older generations had the

means to get married and also the cultural view was that one was expected

to get married and have kids soon after high school.

While the available evidence supported theories of economic instability

and change of gender roles offer a rational and valid explanation for the

decline in marriage rates, they do not explore other aspects that may

contribute significantly to an evolution of trend. Divorce rates rose

considerably for the parents of Generation X and fell slightly for those of

Millennials but from 1960 to 2016 single parent households rose (U.S. Census

Bureau). Are there psychological factors behind the retreat from marriage?

Generation Y is also referred to as Generation Me. Is this generation suffering

from self-absorption leading to a lack of commitment in relationships? There

Millennials & Marriage Rates 15

has also been a trend toward irreligion since the 1940s. United States

Millennials are the least likely to be religious (Twenge, 2015). Religion plays a

role in the institution of marriage. Is there a correlational? The trend toward

staying single among Millennials is fairly new. With some of the generation

only being in their early 20s, other patterns may reveal themselves with

further research. Economics may possibly play the largest role in the trend

but factors are more complex.

Findings

After collecting data from interviews and completing 3 rounds of

analysis, important themes regarding Millennials and marriage emerged. The

following sections will be described each theme and examples from

interviews as supporting evidence for the theme. Pseudonyms are given to

participants. Salient categories were: marriage and children, societal

perceptions, economics, education and career values, divorce,

media/technology, cynicism, the search for an ideal mate,

Marriage and Children

One of the beliefs that Millennials are not getting married at fast rate is

that the rising idea that raising children does not require marriage. Changing

cultural view that single or unmarried parenthood is just as effective as

married couple parenthood (Wang, 2011). While statistics find this assertion

to be true, the general consensus of interview participants is in

disagreement. Martin, 27 says, I believe many can get away without being

married and raising children but also believe it takes both parents to be fully
Millennials & Marriage Rates 16

involved in their child's life. Without one parent or another, I believe it

creates some emotional behaviors that wouldn't be caused if the couple were

happily married. Adam, 26 stated, my parents divorced when I was young

and since then it changed my brother and I. Having both parents together

provides a safe feel (physically and psychologically). Your world is intact at

the moment compared to having your parents divorce which often leads to a

broken child and providing a lack of faith in society that things would work

out as you thought they would. And Amy, 28 echoed the sentiment, I feel

that children who have parents in a successful marriage will teach them how

to work together and overcome issues in their own lives. Although most

participants felt that marriage, specifically a successful one, is crucial to

raising healthy children, a few agreed that unmarried parenthood works as

well as married parenthood claiming I dont think marriage is important in

raising children. I know couples who have been together for almost ten years

and are raising happy, well cared for children, and they are not marriedYou

dont have to have kids to be married and you dont have to be married to

have kids. I think relationships between parents and how society perceives

them have an effect on how children are raised-Emma, 26.

Economics

36% of nations adults ages 18 to 31 are living in parents home, a

record total of 21.6 million in 2012, attributed to declining employment,

declining marriage, and rising college enrollment (Pew Research Center,

2013). The other day, this man came in for a haircut and said he had a wife,
Millennials & Marriage Rates 17

house and children by 21. Well, Im 25 and dont have any of that. He asked

what Im waiting for, said that its not good to wait for kids. But realistically I

have student loans, a car payment and rent is now more than most

mortgages. I am putting marriage off to save money. Marriage is

expensive. There are a lot of people with financial issues, which like I said

above can postpone marriage. Marriage also comes with less benefits, for

one example financial assistance, from state or federal, once married if both

people are working they are required to combine their income, if not.

Money issues have definitely affected marriage planning. Its not a good

idea to jump in with someone else before being financially solid. You should

be able to afford a home first. Allison, 31 adds that she notices her friends

that are married paid almost $10,000 more to have a child then those who

were not married and had access to resources simply because of their

marital status and single income. So thats some food for thought. Though

two respondents mentioned that they thought it may be easy with a two

income household. But, this can occur in cohabitation situations as well as

married ones.

The Search for an Ideal Mate

Most participants expressed their difficulty in finding someone who

could fulfill their expectations of a spouse. Paul states that he is placing

hope and importance on meeting the right person. If [he] never meet them,
Millennials & Marriage Rates 18

[he guesses] marriage will not be in the cards. [He has] seen so many bad

relationships and failed marriages and refuses to be a part of it. Justin, 32

said his past relationships made [him] realize that [he deserves] better. [He]

spent many years single because [he] thought [he] wasnt good enough for

anyone. [He] was emotionally and physically abused and the abuse turned

[him] off from finding love. Megan, 32 has had trouble finding someone as

well: Past relationships have sort of turned me off. I have grown a general

distrust of men. It feels like the hookup culture has really infiltrated my age

group. Most guys are bums. Im not saying that I dont think there are great,

trustworthy people somewhere out there. Its just that I havent encountered

many in my romantic relations, unfortunately. It seems that a great deal of

the people Ive been with have really had no respect for me and have really

only cared about fulfilling their selfish needs. If you are in a marriage, you

must always be thinking of the other person, hence none of those types of

people are marriage material. I used to want to get married but now Im the

point where I dont care if it happens.

Education and Career Values

All participants but two expressed that they had put off marriage plans

to further their education and/or career. Most felt that this took precedence

over getting married. Paul says he is dedicated to my work and school

currently. Megan added that her parents always told {her that she] should

be able to stand on her two feet firstgetting a good education and

furthering my career is most important to me. If I can do that then I will

Millennials & Marriage Rates 19

contemplate marriage. Mikes response was that he is always trying to

better himself.

Changing Gender Roles

Women in the workplace, choosing education and career over staring a

family (change in priorities). Millennials 27% of women completed bachelors

degree at ages 18-33 versus 14% of women from the baby boomer

generation and 20% from Gen X (Pew Research Center, 2015). Each female I

spoke with has had some sort of higher education and is employed. Most

females in the study felt that furthering their education had put off plans for

marriage. Discussion over how their career has affected this aspect of their

life did not occur. Although, this is worth future inquiry.

Divorce

Divorce rates for 2000-2014 hovered around 3.5 per 1,000 (CDC/NCHS,

2015). 1980-1999 The baby boomer generation had unprecedented levels of

divorce. 64% of Gen-Xers and Millennials agree that living together before

marriage may help to prevent divorce (Eickmeyer, 2015). Adam feels that his

parents divorce has made [him] more cautious not to just jump into it.

Marriage is just a tool used by the court to destroy each other.

Sarahs parents also left a negative impression on her. She tells that her

parents are divorced and have been separated since [she] was 2. [Her]

mom has been married four times and is in the process of getting divorced

for the fourth time. [Her] father is on his third marriage. [She has watched]

both mom and dad cheat in their marriages. I'm very against it because I've
Millennials & Marriage Rates 20

seen the hurt it causesI do not have a great example of marriage. Maybe

my ideas are unrealistic. Casey, 31 is the same stating, I saw my mom go

through 2 divorces. I always viewed marriage as not so promising. Allison

also experienced a bad relationship between her parents: my family is very

broken. I grew up most of my life not wanting to ever get married because of

the things I witnessed as a child. When people would ask me why I dont

want to get married my reply was that its easier to leave when youre not.

Cynicism

Nearly two in five men and women indicate that marriage has not

worked out for most people they know (Eickmeyer, 2015). Sarah, 25 I have

seen friends get pregnant from one night stands. I think this generation is full

of hookups and why relationships and marriage happen less and less. Same

benefits with making the commitment. Paul, 30 I think that [marriage]

should strengthen a relationship and I believe in some cases it does. I dont

think that is the most common outcome though. Kelly, 34 To me, marriage

does not symbolize love. Erin, 23I personally do not see it anything more

than making a relationship legalized. Mike, 27, I think nowadays marriage

isnt a big deal. Everyone has side pieces.

Media/Technology

Quantitative studies have previously linked Facebook usage to

negative effect on relationship satisfaction (Farrugia, 2013). The Sarah said,

I think social media has an influence on relationships and marriage. People

post their life on Facebook versus sharing that with their partner. I think
Millennials & Marriage Rates 21

technology dampers relationships as well. More connected to people. Easier

to cheat when other people are a swipe away on Tinder. Mike adds Media

has a huge impact. Everyone just wants something better. Trisha, 25 says

she feels the majority of people dont put much stock in loyalty and trust

because its hard not to be dishonest in some ways. Social media is a conduit

of shams a lot of the time. Allison feels that today people are so socially

connected that it makes it tempting and so easy to fulfill something your

partner cant. I have been in my own relationship for 11 years and I myself

have had emotional needs met though social media. I wont lie; I enjoy a

conversation with some substance. I also dont hate it when someone

outside my relationship states Im beautiful.

Some of the categories had overlap. Divorce, media/technology, and

cynicism seemed to share responses. A theme that will need further inquiry

is the role of responsibility in a Millennials life. Millennials parents

generation has more affluence than that of their grandparents. Darrell, 26

states, Our generation tends to have less responsibility now. Parents gave

more so we were allowed to push adult life back longer. I lived in my moms

house for free in my early 20s. I put emphasis on having fun. Megan had a

similar response: I think my generation has had it a lot easier than our

parents generation. The fact that my parents have done very well economic

has given me the opportunity to pursue higher education goals and not

worry about financial stability. This, in a sense, has maybe made me a little

too comfortable with staying a child. I did not worry about saving money
Millennials & Marriage Rates 22

until recently, therefore I really have nothing. I think its really important to

have all your ducks in a row first.

Factors that did not seem to play a role in the participants delay of

marriage were the availability of birth control, religion, and only two

participants still live with their parents (both claim this has not had an effect

on their marriage plans). Opinions were mixed on whether the change in the

social clock for marriage age has alleviated pressures to get married.

Discussion & Conclusions

This study set out to examine Millennials & declining marriage rates.

After an initial literature review, relevant areas of inquiry were developed in

marriage and children, economics, higher education and career betterment,

finding an adequate spouse, the effects of divorce on the perspective of

marriage, attitudes towards marriage, the media and technologys effect,

religion, birth control, and also changing gender roles. Prior quantitative

research has found footing for all of these underlying factors. Confirmation of

these factors and opening up opportunity for discovery was the main goal.

The literature suggests that economics be the most pertinent factor behind

the declining marriage rate. The qualitative interviews performed in this

study uphold this concept strongly. Although interview questions were closed

off at times, participants still shared insightful information beyond a yes or

no. Many seemed eager to give their opinions on topics brought up. A 31

year old female wrote 4 pages loosely based on my questions but added
Millennials & Marriage Rates 23

much of her ideas about marriage. The research has shed light on aspects

that were not found in the literature. Literature provided numbers that

summarize and give a general idea but do not give a deeper understanding

of topics. By using qualitative research, respondents were given a voice and

the expression of this voice, although limited in numbers, has brought depth

to theory. Using quantitative research along with qualitative strengthens

findings. Given the limitations of this study (time, resources, expertise, bias),

generalizability is difficult. While this studys results supported prior

research, they contradicted a large survey where participants stated that

they thought single or unmarried parenthood. More research on the topic

would have to be conducted to disprove the surveys claim. While the

generation is still young, Millennials may only be postponing married not

condemning it.

Overall, the majority of participants did not mention self-development

explicitly but the few that did had this to say, You have to take of yourself

and be content with your own stability before you can help take care of and

love someone else. Another said, I think people are unique, and so are

marriages. I think marriage has always been diverse, but the way it was

portrayed for so long was strictly conforming to controlled societal norms.

After knowing so many women who divorced, rushed into marriages, or were

forced into unhappy marriages, I'm not bothered by the decline of marriages.

If anything, I'm glad people are putting their development as a person before

rushing into something. When you're young, you're constantly changing and
Millennials & Marriage Rates 24

developing, and being with someone who knows who they are and what they

want is better than waking up next to someone who might as well be a

stranger in a handful of years. I'd rather people live the lives they want to

lead, and be happy. No rush. And another echo, I spent the whole decade

of my 20s trying to figure myself out. If Im not good on my own, how will I

be good for anyone else? Analyzing these statements gave rise to the

inference that almost all participants want to be a whole person before

marriage. Although the delay in marriage seems to arise from a multitude of

complex factors, most participants have spent time gaining an education,

finding good careers, and making sure their partner has a goodness of fit.

Stories told and opinions given were all well-thought out. I have no

comparison for the baby boomers generation, but it seems that Millennials

apprehension is partially because they want to make the right decision about

marriage with regard to their position in life. This is something to consider for

future research as well as inquiry into changing gender roles and the direct

effects of technology on marriage rates as opposed to relationship

satisfaction.
Millennials & Marriage Rates 25

References

CDC/NCHS National Vital Statistics System. (2015). National Marriage and

Divorce Rate

Trends. Retrieved from:

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/marriage_divorce_tables.htm

Eickmeyer, K.J. (2015). Generation X and Millennials: Attitudes toward

Marriage & Divorce

(FP-15-12). National Center for Family & Marriage Research. Retrieved

from:

https://www.bgsu.edu/ncfmr/resources/data/family-profiles/eickmeyer-
gen-x-

millennials-fp-15-12.html
Millennials & Marriage Rates 26

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Appendix: A Commentary on General Education Learning

Introduction: I was introduced to UMAs General Education outcomes in
SSC 100. I am very familiar with and have achieved many of these outcomes.
I have developed necessary skills required in programs of higher education.
The major categories I have made achievements in include information
literacy, writing communication, and ethical knowledge. Below I have
summarized my work in SSC 420 on these competencies.

I. Information Literacy Skills:

1) I worked with Jess at the Katz library to develop focal questions and learn search
terms that would aid in my literature review. One book I was interested in was
unfortunately not available in the UMaine systems.

2) OneSearch helped me to find a book on the Millennial generation. OneSearch is has

been very useful in my academic career but was limited in the amount of
research articles relevant to my research topic of interest.

3) Google Scholar was the most useful in finding literature to review. It had the most
information available for free. Although key terms would sometimes bring up
irrelevant information and took much time to parse through. I could not find
other search engine that were useful for my literature review. JStor had many
article but required paid membership.

4) Evaluate and cite literature using APA style (demonstrated in the research paper
above).

5) Use one scholarly, government or professional website as a source. The U.S. Census
bureau is cited as a source.

6) Use one creditable video or ipod source. I did not find a relevant source to do this.

II. Written Communication Skills: indicators and how to (include at least five)
1) access the APA style resource portal at APA and the APA Style Cribsheet

2) craft an introduction inclusive of the research goals and sequence of the paper
(See paper).

3) write a proposal, distinguishing it from a research report or essay;

(The proposal is the introduction, literature review, and methods section.
Proposals do not include a findings or discussion and conclusions section).
 Millennials & Marriage Rates 29

4) formulate relevant/useful research questions

(See introduction section).

5) incorporate an abstract into a research report;

(See paper).

6) write a summary and referring back to introductory purposes or goals;

(See discussion & conclusions section).

7) construct a bibliography and include citations and references in the body of

a research report;
(See references page).

III. Ethical Knowledge:

By searching Google, I located a center at Fordham University. Ethics

come from a place of moral obligation. They are not punishable by law. Laws
are manmade and are punishable and enforced by governments. Codes and
rules are similar to laws in that if violated, they may have consequences.
These are also manmade. At UMA, ethical expectations are found in the
Student Conduct Code and the Academic Integrity Policy located on the UMA
website.