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The American Family, 1988–2028: Looking Back and Looking Forward
Brief 13, August 2008
In 1988, the American family appeared to be in serious trouble—at least according to the statistics. Beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the marriage rate plummeted and the divorce rate and unwed birth percentage skyrocketed. By the late 1980s the percentage of broken homes in America was at a historical high. Yet few academics, politicians, journalists, and other national leaders were at all alarmed. A common theme among many family experts was that family weakening or decline was only a “myth.”
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Divorce, Dads, and the Well-Being of Children: Answering Common Research Questions
Brief 12, July 2008
Divorce is a powerful force in contemporary American family life. Current estimates suggest that between 43 and 50 percent of first-time marriages will end in divorce. Consequently, more than one million U.S. children experience parental divorce each year. The growing number of divorces has profound implications for children, mothers, fathers, and society. The consequences of these family changes for children and society are hotly debated. To bring clarity to this debate, this brief reviews current research about divorce and its consequences for children.
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Is Religion an Answer? Marriage, Fatherhood, and the Male Problematic
Brief 11, June 2008
This brief provides an array of evidence indicating that religion is an answer to the male problematic—that is, the tendency of fathers to become detached, emotionally or physically, from their children and the mothers of their children. The author finds that fathers who are religious, and who have partners who are religious, are—on average—more likely to be happily married, to be engaged and affectionate parents, and to get and stay married to the mothers of their children.
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The Benefits of Marriage for African American Men
Brief 10, Future of the Black Family Series, May 2008
This brief surveys the research on the effects of family structure on African American men and finds overwhelming evidence that getting and staying married has a significant beneficial effect on black men’s well-being.
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The Taxpayer Costs of Divorce: First-Ever Estimates for the Nation and for All Fifty States
Report, April 2008
In first-ever research, this report quantifies a minimum $112 billion annual taxpayer cost from high rates of divorce and unmarried childbearing. It identifies national, state and local costs which account for more than $1 trillion in the last decade.
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Read Executive Summary | Download Report
For A New Revisionism: Scholarship on the Black Family since the Moynihan Report
Brief 9, Future of the Black Family Series, March 2008
The decline of marriage among African Americans has been one of the most dramatic social changes in recent history. Since 1965, scholars have taken two distinct positions on why this is so. The authors argue that both schools of thought are flawed, and call for a “new revisionism” in the field of African American family studies.
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The Shift and the Denial: Scholarly Attitudes toward Family Change, 1977-2002
Brief 8, February 2008
Many Americans have been questioning the importance of marriage, and the rift among scholars has allowed both progressives and traditionalists to claim that the experts are on their side. Over the past 20 years, have leading scholars reached a consensus on marriage?
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Read | Download
Protectors or Perpetrators? Fathers, Mothers, and Child Abuse and Neglect
Brief 7, January 2008
This research brief explores what role fathers play in perpetrating or protecting their children from child neglect and abuse, and it explores the social, emotional, and economic factors associated with paternal abuse and neglect.
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Read | Download
Hardwired to Connect: The New Scientific Case for Authoritative Communities
DVD, 2007
An informational DVD summarizing the findings of the Institute’s report, “Hardwired to Connect.” Copies are free while supplies last.
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Baby Fathers and American Family Formation
Essay, Future of the Black Family Series, August 2007
How do we help low-income, never-married parents stay together and avoid breaking up? Read how the “daddy moment” offers a potentially rich opportunity for researchers, policy makers, and other social and civic leaders to help the couple deal with tensions and issues arising from their shared parenting roles and possibly imagine marriage to one another.
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Responding to the Black Marriage Crisis: A New Vision for Change
Brief 6, Future of the Black Family Series, May 2007
This research brief lays out a positive vision and tangible steps that will help us create a new, healthy Black marriage culture in America.
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Read | Download
Religion, Race, and Relationships in Urban America
Brief 5, Future of the Black Family Series, May 2007
This brief is the first published research on the link between religiosity and relationship quality among unmarried couples in fragile families.
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Read | Download
The Health of an Institution: A United States Marriage Index
Fact Sheet, March 2007
View the proposed U.S. Marriage Index. It currently covers the years 1970 to 2000 and can be updated as more data becomes available.
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Read | Download
Marriage and Mental Health in Adults and Children
Brief 4, February 2007
Research strongly supports the idea that marriage matters for women�s, men�s, and children�s mental health.
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The Other Marriage Penalty: A New Proposal to Eliminate the Marriage Penalty for Low-Income Americans
Brief 3, Future of the Black Family Series, November 2006
Our welfare system frequently cuts benefits to low-income couples that decide to marry. Read more about the problem and a new proposal to fix it.
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Read | Download
Marriage and the Well-Being of African American Boys
Brief 2, Future of the Black Family Series, November 2006
African American boys tend to receive more support and have better outcomes–including greater self-esteem and reduced likelihood of delinquency–when they live with married parents.
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Read | Download
The Revolution in Parenthood: The Emerging Global Clash Between Adult Rights and Children’s Needs
Report, September 2006
Around the world, the two-person, mother-father model of parenthood is being fundamentally challenged. Read how.
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Read Report | Download Report (English)
| Download Report (French) Marriage and the Law: A Statement of Principles
Report, September 2006
100 family and legal scholars come together to critique current family law practices, affirm seven great truths about marriage and the law, and to offer three general insights that can be applied to a legal theory that is more respectful toward and supportive of marriage as a social institution.
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Read Ex Summ | Download Ex Summ
| Order ReportBetween Two Worlds: The Spiritual Lives of Children of Divorce
DVD, 2007
A 30 minute documentary narrated by author Elizabeth Marquardt and based on her book, Between Two Worlds: The Inner Lives of Children of Divorce. It features interviews with seven grown children of divorce talking about faith, family of origin, and marriage hopes and fears. Read more
What is America’s Most Serious Social Problem?
Fact Sheet, February 2006
The Scholarly Consensus on Marriage
Fact Sheet, February 2006
There’s a new consensus that marriage matters. Read select quotes from leading scholars and commentators.
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Family Structure and Children’s Educational Outcomes
Brief 1, November 2005
Family structure–whether a child�s parents are married, divorced, single, remarried, or cohabiting–is a significant influence on children�s educational performance.
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Read | Download
Why Marriage Matters, Second Edition: Twenty-Six Conclusions from the Social Sciences
Report, September 2005
Sixteen social scientists summarize marriage-related research into an extremely useful, succinct form.
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Read Ex Summ | Download Ex Summ
| Order ReportThe Consequences of Marriage for African Americans: A Comprehensive Literature Review
Report, Future of the Black Family Series, September 2005
Scholars still lack a comprehensive understanding of the consequences of marriage for African Americans. This report seeks to close that knowledge gap.
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Read Ex Summ | Download Ex Summ
| Order ReportThe Future of Family Law: Law and the Marriage Crisis in North America
Report, June 2005
Family law is heading in one or more of at least four troubling directions. Read why.
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Read Ex Summ | Download Ex Summ
| Order Report