Pathways to Adulthood and Marriage: Teenagers' Attitudes, Expectations, and Relationship Patterns

In recent years, marriage patterns in the U.S. have changed dramatically, with adults spending more time unmarried, and cohabitation and nonmarital childbearing becoming increasingly common. To examine these potential precursors of changes in adult marriage patterns, this report examines teens’ attitudes, expectations, and experiences associated with romantic relationships and marriage, and explores typical relationship pathways as they move into adulthood. Teens’ attitudes toward marriage are generally favorable, and over 80 percent plan to marry some day. Although they express strong support for marriage, they are also increasingly accepting of cohabitation before marriage and report wanting to wait until later in life to marry.