Attitudes Toward Marriage and Long-term Relationships ...

Georgia State University

ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University

Sociology Theses

Department of Sociology

Spring 5-7-2016

Attitudes Toward Marriage and Long-term Relationships across Emerging Adulthood

Kaitlin A. Hippen

Georgia State University

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Hippen, Kaitlin A., "Attitudes Toward Marriage and Long-term Relationships across Emerging Adulthood." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2016.

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ATTITUDES TOWARD MARRIAGE AND LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS EMERGING ADULTHOOD

by

KAITLIN A. HIPPEN

Under the Direction of Daniel L. Carlson, PhD

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. INDEX WORDS: Marriage, Relationships, Attitudes, Attitude change, Emerging adulthood

ATTITUDES TOWARD MARRIAGE AND LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS EMERGING ADULTHOOD

by

KAITLIN A. HIPPEN

A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Sociology

in the College of Arts and Sciences Georgia State University 2016

Copyright by Kaitlin A. Hippen

2016

ATTITUDES TOWARD MARRIAGE AND LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS EMERGING ADULTHOOD

by

KAITLIN A. HIPPEN

Committee Chair: Daniel L. Carlson Committee: Dawn M. Baunach Elisabeth O. Burgess

Electronic Version Approved:

Office of Graduate Studies College of Arts and Sciences Georgia State University May 2016

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