Changing patterns of marriage

Question 1

Changes that have occurred?

Answer 1

>Fewer religious marriages
>More re-marriages
>Fewer births
>More teenage pregnancies
>more re-constituted families
>more lone parent families mostly lone mothers
>More people living alone
>Changes in registration of births
>Higher rates of cohabitation
>Fewer marriages

Question 2

Marriage

Answer 2

Overall decline in the number of marriages in the last 40 years.
In 2005 less than half the number than 1970.
4/10 of marriages are now remarriages.
Mean age of marriages in 2012 was 36.5 for men and 34 for women.

Question 3

Cohabitation

Answer 3

By 1997. 22% of couples between the ages of 16-59 were cohabiting.
Number has increased due to the growing amount of gay couples.
By 2010 80% partners lived together before marriage.

Question 4

Separation+Divorce

Answer 4

Since 1960s there has been a great increase in the divorce rate.
40% of marriages will end in divorce.

Question 5

Parenting practices

Answer 5

Age of having first child has increased. 30 for women and 32 for men.
Growth of lone parents-3x as many since 1971.

Question 6

Factors influencing these changes?

Answer 6

>Changing social attitudes
>More choices available
>Life expectation
>Changes in the law
>Secularisation
>The position of women