Gender Attitudes Towards Lisa Servaty Marriage Kirsten Weber

Gender Attitudes Towards Lisa Servaty Marriage Kirsten Weber Research Problem Marriage is vulnerable in contemporary society. Today 39% of Americans say marriage is becoming obsolete (Yen, 2010. ) The US census data released in September, 2010 showed marriages hit an all time low of 52% for adults 18 years and older. Fewer people in western societies, including the U. S. , are marrying and divorce rates are increasing throughout the world. (Beach & Fincham, 2010) Research Question/Hypothesis Are there gender differences in a sample of college students regarding their attitudes towards marriage? Researchers predicted females would have stronger attitudes than males in support of marriage and people marry mostly for love. Supported by the literature; Campbell and Wright found the principle purpose of marriage in the US is love and satisfaction. Purpose of Study To examine the differences between genders Regarding their attitudes and beliefs towards marriage. To develop a reliable survey instrument that would measure those attitudes. To gather data that would increase the awareness on current marriage perspective's and be used by counselors to support stability in relationships. Literature Review Campbell & Wright (2010) Beliefs and practices of marriage. Emphasizing importance of committed partner. Beliefs of marriage remain stable across time. Marriage is defined as monogamous and lifelong. Trotter (2010) Influence of parental romantic relationships on college students. Divorce is not expected when individuals marry. High divorce rates Healthy relationships are hard to model. Abwitz et al. (2009) Examined gender differences in college students view romantic relationships. Men believe cohabitation improves marriage. Women believe couples stop “trying” after the wedding. O’reiliy et al. (2009) Qualities college women want in a marital partner. Women don’t need men to provide for them Riggio & Weiser (2008) Studied parents marital status influence on their children. Divorce not negative or harmful, when marriage viewed as not beneficial. • Attitudes do affect your personal relationship • Gap: gender difference in attitudes towards marriage Advisor: Dr. Susan University of Wisconsin. Wolfgram Stout Theoretical Framework Social Learning Theory: Learning occurs within a social context. • Predicting that views of marriage would be different between the genders of undergraduate students. • Formed through observational learning, imitation and modeling of family friends , specific to same gender parental attitudes. Methods 1 Participants: 136 male and female college students from university of northwestern Wisconsin Research Design: Non random pilot study-cross sectional-purposive sampling Data Collection Instrument: IRB approved, informed by literature and theory, implied consent, Self administered surveys, one independent variable, two demographic, ten close ended statements to Likert scale Procedure: administered questionnaires to: male and female college students in general education courses, explained implied consent and confidentiality Data Analysis plan: Cleaned and coded surveys-analyzed data using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) Frequencies, cross tabulations, mean comparisons, independent t-test, and reliability analysis Methods 2 Demographic Variable Independent Variable AGE (age), RLS (relationship status) GEN (gender) Dependent Variables GOL (one of my goals is to be married), CAB (cohabitation is more popular then marriage), LOV (the principle purpose of marriage is love), CHL (fundamental purpose of marriage is to have and raise children), FVR (marriage should last forever), INF (infidelity in a marriage is unacceptable), OFN (marriage is old fashioned), MPS ( marriage is a monogamous partnership), PFL (personal fulfillment is a purpose of marriage), CSO (marriage is needed for a civil society). Compare Means Table 2 GEN GOL Male Mean: 4. 26 SD: 0. 88 Range: 4. 00 Female: Mean: 4. 18 SD: 1. 04 Range: 4. 00 CAB CHL FVR 3. 14 4. 17 1. 19 0. 97 4. 00 3. 58 1. 02 4. 00 4. 26 3. 80 2. 12 1. 03 1. 43 1. 03 4. 00 3. 85 1. 22 4. 00 3. 50 0. 95 3. 00 3. 36 1. 12 4. 00 3. 25 4. 32 0. 95 0. 76 4. 00 3. 51 1. 10 4. 00 4. 35 4. 41 2. 49 0. 79 0. 80 1. 19 3. 00 4. 12 0. 92 3. 00 3. 51 1. 01 3. 07 0. 92 Independent T test Table 3 Gender Males Females t 3. 80 (1. 42) LOV df 4. 41 -3. 036 101. 227 (0. 79) Sig. *0. 003 INF OFN MPS PFL CSO Results summary Hypothesis: Females would have stronger attitudes than males, in support of marriage and that people marry mostly for love • NO statically significant mean gender differences in support of our hypothesis. We did find one variable (LOV) in moderate support of our hypothesis, that females have stronger attitudes that people marry mostly for love. • Reliability Analysis: Cronbach’s Alpha: . 578 Implications for practitioners • Provides family social science professionals with a contemporary view of marriage in a sample of college students • College counselors, mental health counselors, • Marriage and family therapists, and primary and secondary educator can use this data to serve as a pathway to understand support marriage relationships. Implications for Future Research • Large random, national sample, generalize findings nation wide • Broaden the sample number extend outside of the Midwest-focus on different populations • Increase variability scale 1 -7 • distributed again- “old fashioned”-For “obsolete” Conclusion In spite of all marriages vulnerabilities in today's society marriage still remains a goal of young people today. ~ ”marriage is still very common and is a goal for most people. ”~ Participant