28%
The percentage of women who believe that a young couple should not live together unless they are married, down from 34.7 percent in 2002, according to a 2016 analysis by the National Center for Health Statistics of changes in attitudes between 2002 and 2013. Men have also become more likely to approve of premarital co-habitation: Only 24.8 percent find it problematic, compared with 32 percent in 2002.
70.1%
The percentage of men who believe it is OK for an unmarried female to have and raise a child, up from 58.9 percent in 2002. Meanwhile, 78.4 percent of women agree that raising a child outside of marriage is OK, compared with 69.5 percent in 2002.
64.1%
The percentage of men who believe it is all right for unmarried 18-year-olds to have sexual intercourse if they have "strong affection" for each other, compared with 59.8 percent in 2002. Among women, 54.2 percent agree with the statement, compared with 50.6 percent in 2002.
38%
The percentage of women who believe divorce is usually the best solution when a couple can't seem to work out their marriage problems, down from 46.7 percent in 2002. Men have also become more critical of divorce: 39.3 percent think it is the best solution, compared with 44.3 percent in 2002.
Source: Daugherty J., Copen C. Trends in attitudes about marriage, childbearing, and sexual behavior: United States, 2002, 2006–10, and 2011–13. National Health Statistics Reports; no. 92. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2016.
