Date of Award
Spring 5-7-2016
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Sociology
First Advisor
Dr. Daniel L. Carlson
Second Advisor
Dr. Dawn M. Baunach
Third Advisor
Dr. Elisabeth O. Burgess
Abstract
The current study expands upon existing developmental research on marital attitude change by examining how attitudes toward marriage and long-term relationships may vary across emerging adulthood. Utilizing five waves of data from the Center on Young Adult Health and Development’s College Life Study, discrete-time survival analysis and latent basis growth curve analysis are employed to assess the change—and predictors of such change—in three measures of relationship attitudes (desire for marriage, desire for long-term relationships, and importance of marriage and long-term relationships) of over 900 college students. Results indicate positive change in all three measures of attitudes, with most emerging adults desiring and placing importance on marriage and long-term relationships from the very beginning of college. Predictors of attitude change included sex, race, experience of parental death, student status, educational aspirations, and total number of sex partners. Results suggest a need for more longitudinal research in this area.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/8461266
Recommended Citation
Hippen, Kaitlin A., "Attitudes Toward Marriage and Long-term Relationships across Emerging Adulthood." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2016.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/8461266