Item from the Smart Marriages Archive, reproduced in the Divorce Statistics Collection
Marriage weaker than 30 years ago, New Jerseyans say
Sunday, June 13, 1999

The Associated Press
http://www.bergen.com/home/marry1319990613.htm
PARSIPPANY -- More than 60 percent of New Jerseyans think that marriage is
weaker than it was 30 years ago because of relaxed attitudes about divorce
and extramarital sex, a poll conducted for a conservative family organization
says.
[note - the poll was a real, demographically balanced one done by a
prominent polling firm, not by the organization. -JC]
Although those surveyed think marriages are weaker, a majority are happy with
their spouses, according to the poll released today by the New Jersey Family
Policy Council. Sixty-three percent of those surveyed in a telephone poll of
402 adults rated their marriage a 9 or 10 on a scale of 1 to 10, the poll
said.
...

Sixty-two percent of the respondents said the typical marriage today is
weaker than the marriages of 30 years ago. About four out of 10 of those
surveyed said that relaxed sexual attitudes were a leading reason for
weakening marriages. About a third of those surveyed cited more-approving
attitudes about divorce and greater financial pressures on families.

New Jerseyans rated fidelity and lifelong commitment the most important
factors in a strong marriage, followed by good communication, a close
relationship, and ability to resolve conflicts, according to the poll.
Financial security and strong religious faith ranked among the lowest factors
in strong marriages.

Spouses can get the most outside support for their marriages from extended
family and church, the poll found. Thirty-six percent of the respondents
listed extended family as their greatest source of support, and about three
people in 10 listed church.

Nearly four in 10 respondents said sexual satisfaction was integral to a good
marriage.

Wirthlin Worldwide, a Virginia polling company, interviewed respondents on
the telephone during the weekend of Sept. 11 through Sept. 14, 1997, to
obtain the poll results. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 5
percentage points.

The company interviewed 211 women and 191 men. The majority were between the
ages of 25 and 49. Fifty-eight percent of those surveyed were married; 6
percent were divorced, and 2 percent lived with a significant other.


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