Item from the Smart
Marriages Archive, reproduced in the Divorce Statistics
Collection
Youth want to turn the tide on divorce
Sunday 8 November 1998
http://www.theage.com.au/daily/981108/news/news5.html
Published in The Age.
By ADELE HORIN
Today's young people strongly believe marriage to be a lifelong commitment
despite the high divorce rate among their parents' generation, according
to
new research.
The research, commissioned by Relationships Australia (formerly the Marriage
Guidance Council) to commemorate its 50th anniversary, also shows that the
relationship many adults most wanted to improve was with their brother or
sister.
The 1998 Relationship Index, released today, revealed that the 18-24 age
group
most strongly held the view that the main reason people would marry in future
was to signify a lifelong commitment.
Only 34 per cent of people over 55 agreed. They believed the main reason
people would marry was to provide security for children.
It was because young people took marriage so seriously that they were cautious
about taking the plunge and were delaying marriage, the national director
of
Relationships Australia, Ms Helen Disney, said.
As well, the main reason given for not getting married in future was fear
of
divorce ``and what went with it'', with young people the most worried.
``These are the kids of the most divorced generation ever,'' said Ms Anne
Hollonds, chief executive of Relationships Australia (NSW), ``and it's
reassuring they take marriage so seriously.''
She said younger people were often critical of how their parents' generation
had handled marriage. They wanted to be more financially independent before
marriage and intended to handle life's tasks differently.
``The next generation may be more pragmatic and realistic and approach
marriage in a way that will heighten their chance of success,'' she said.
The 25 to 54-year-olds also believed that marriage was for life. But they
were
more likely than the younger group to cite security for children. Response
to
family pressure did not rate highly as a reason to get married.
The research, based on a survey of 1400 Australians by A.C.Nielsen, shows
that
three out of four respondents had experienced major difficulties in at least
one of their important relationships in recent years.
Financial problems was the reason cited most often for contributing to
relationship difficulties, followed by work and study demands, and raising
children.
``Times are harder and it's affecting people's relationships,'' Ms Disney
said. ``Sometimes after the external problems have been fixed, the destructive
patterns in people's relationships don't necessarily go away, and they need
help.''
The study showed more men than women wanted to improve relationships with
their partners or siblings (33-28 per cent). ``The desire is there,'' Ms
Disney said, ``men are concerned about relationships but something is getting
in the way of their seeking help.''
The importance people placed on relationships with siblings took Relationships
Australia by surprise. It was the relationship cited most often as in need
of
improvement, and the relationship a high proportion of respondents most
wanted
to improve.
``Siblings are the ones who will most likely see you through life - if only
you could talk to them,'' said Ms Hollonds. ``As people get older, they
start
to regret they didn't invest more time and energy into making a better
relationship with their brothers and sisters.''
Published by The Age Online Pty Ltd ACN 069 962 885
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