Number 49 n March 22, 2012 First Marriages in the United States: Data From the 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth by Casey E. Copen, Ph.D.; Kimberly Daniels, Ph.D.; Jonathan Vespa, Ph.D.; and William D. Mosher, Ph.D., Division of Vital Statistics Abstract and cohabitation; contraception, sterilization, and infertility; pregnancy Objectives—This report shows trends and group differences in current outcomes; and births. This information marital status, with a focus on first marriages among women and men aged is gathered from women and men aged 15–44 years in the United States. Trends and group differences in the timing and 15–44—the age range in which 99.7% duration of first marriages are also discussed. These data are based on the of all births occur (4). The NSFG is 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). National estimates of jointly planned and funded by the probabilities of first marriage by age and probabilities of separation and divorce Centers for Disease Control and for women and men’s first marriages are presented by a variety of demographic Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for characteristics. Data are compared with similar measures for 1982, 1995, and Health Statistics (NCHS) and several 2002. other programs of the U.S. Department Methods—The analyses presented in this report are based on a nationally of Health and Human Services (see representative sample of 12,279 women and 10,403 men aged 15–44 years in the ‘‘Acknowledgments’’). household population of the United States. The overall response rate for the The NSFG contains a full marriage 2006–2010 NSFG was 77%—78% for women and 75% for men. history for both women and men; Results—The percentage of women who were currently cohabiting (living however, the focus of the current report with a man in a sexual relationship) rose from 3.0% in 1982 to 11% in 2006– is on first marriages. First, this report 2010; it was higher in some groups, including Hispanic groups, and the less presents the current marital status of educated. In 2006–2010, women and men married for the first time at older ages women and men in 2006–2010 by than in previous years. The median age at first marriage was 25.8 for women and selected demographic characteristics, 28.3 for men. Premarital cohabitation contributed to the delay in first marriage with comparisons to prior NSFG for both women and men. surveys in 1982, 1995, and 2002 (2,5,6). Keywords: union formation • divorce • cohabitation Second, this report shows trends and group differences in the timing of first marriage and the outcomes of these before ever marrying (1,2). Current Introduction marriages in the United States in estimates of divorce indicate that about The timing and duration of first 2006–2010 and compares these half of first marriages end in divorce marriages in the United States changed estimates with the same NSFG surveys, (2,3). Since 1973, the National Survey dramatically during the second half of noted above. Tables that show the of Family Growth (NSFG) has collected the twentieth century, continuing into cohabitation experiences of women and data on factors affecting family the twenty-first century. People are men are also presented; however, more marrying for the first time at older ages, formation, growth, and dissolution— detail on cohabitation will be covered in and many adults cohabit with a partner including histories of marriage, divorce, a forthcoming report. Several specific U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics Page 2 National Health Statistics Reports n Number 49 n March 22, 2012 questions are addressed for women and Divorce from first marriage than in the past (17). Second, the men (aged 15–44 except where noted): decision to marry from cohabitation is Demographers use a variety of conditioned by the attitudes and + What are the current marital and approaches to describe trends and group expectations of cohabitors toward cohabiting statuses of women and differences in marital dissolution. One marriage, which vary by sex, race and men (Tables 1 and 2)? such measure, the crude divorce rate, is ethnicity, and socioeconomic status defined as the number of divorces per + How old are women and men aged (18–20). 1,000 people in the population. In 2009, 18–44 when they marry for the first The inclusion of cohabitation in this the national rate of divorce was 9.7 per time (Tables 3 and 4)? report is intended to show the 1,000 for women aged 15 and over and + How long do first marriages last relationship between premarital 9.2 per 1,000 for men aged 15 and over (Tables 5–7)? cohabitation and the stability of first (10). Although useful for describing marriages. However, the multivariate + How are prior experiences with changes in divorce over time, the crude models needed to disentangle the cohabitation, marriage, and births divorce rate does not provide complex relationship between premarital associated with how long first information on the percentage of first cohabitation and the stability of first marriages last (Tables 5–7)? marriages that end in divorce. Another marriages are beyond the scope of this method used to describe the rate of + How long are women and men report. separated from their first marriage divorce is to calculate how many first before divorce (Table 8)? marriages end within a given year, or set of adjacent years. In the 1995 Methods NSFG, this type of measure was used to Background show that 50% of all women’s first Data source marriages end in separation or divorce Premarital cohabitation and The NSFG has been conducted after 20 years (6). Similarly, the 2002 seven times by CDC’s NCHS: in 1973 first marriage NSFG showed about one-third of men’s and 1976 with samples of married and first marriages ended in divorce after 10 Marriage is one of the primary formerly married women; in 1982, 1988, events during the transition to years (2). There are many factors that and 1995 with samples of women of all adulthood. Despite high expectations influence the likelihood of divorce from marital status categories; and in 2002 that they will eventually marry, many a first marriage, including educational and 2006–2010 with national samples of young adults in the United States are attainment, employment status, and both women and men aged 15–44. postponing first marriage (7). While premarital cohabitation (11). The 2006–2010 NSFG was based deferring marriage, many young adults on 22,682 face-to-face interviews— may choose to cohabit with a partner. The link between premarital 12,279 with women and 10,403 with Cohabitation has increasingly become cohabitation and divorce men, aged 15–44 years in the household the first coresidential union formed from first marriage among young adults in the United States population of the United States. The (8). Among women, 68% of unions One of the factors related to the sample design of the NSFG is based on formed in 1997–2001 began as a likelihood of divorce from a first independent samples of women and cohabitation rather than as a marriage marriage is whether or not a person men, not on couples. Men and women (8). If entry into any type of union, lives with a partner before marrying. It living on military bases or in institutions marriage or cohabitation, is taken into has been well documented that women were not included in the survey. The account, then the timing of a first union and men who cohabit with their future sample did include persons temporarily occurs at roughly the same point in the spouse before first marriage are more living away from the household in a life course as marriage did in the past likely to divorce than those who do not college dormitory, sorority, or fraternity (9). Given the place of cohabitation in cohabit with their spouse before first (21). The interviews were administered contemporary union formation, marriage (12–14). However, recent in person by trained female interviewers descriptions of marital behavior, research suggests that the association primarily in the respondents’ homes. particularly those concerning trends over between premarital cohabitation and The 2006–2010 sample is a nationally time, are more complete when marital instability for first marriages representative multistage area cohabitation is also measured. may have weakened over time because probability sample drawn from 110 Accordingly, this report contains data on it is less apparent for more recent birth areas, or ‘‘Primary Sampling Units’’ premarital cohabitation to measure its cohorts (15,16). There are several (PSUs) across the country. To protect association with the stability of first explanations posited for these findings. the respondent’s privacy, only one marriage. First, cohabitation has been practiced person was interviewed in each selected among individuals at both low and high household. In 2006–2010, persons aged risk of marital disruption, thus may be 15–19 and black and Hispanic adults less predictive of a marital dissolution were sampled at higher rates than National Health Statistics Reports n Number 49 n March 22, 2012 Page 3 others. The sample is designed to they had children from prior incomplete. For respondents whose produce national, not state, estimates. relationships. union has not yet ended as of the date All respondents were given written of interview, the end date of the union is In this report, cohabitation histories and oral information about the survey unknown, and it is not known how long are included in some tables to provide a and were informed that participation the union will last. The duration of such more complete picture of the union was voluntary.