Age at marriage
Dohm, T.E.
Options for Policy and Practice 4(3): 1-13
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0115-2033 PMID: 12261741 Document Number: 388502
Questions on ideal and expected age at marriage and desired number of children were included in an aptitude test administered to graduating students of vocational schools, colleges, and universities in Greater Manila. The study reports the responses of 4250 students at 17 schools who took the test in July-August 1976. 57.6% of participating students came from private, nonsectarian schools, 61.9% were female, and 89.4% were Catholic. Mean ideal age at marriage is 26.65, and most frequently reported ideal age is 25, indicated by 45% of respondents. Mean expected age is 26.2. The mean number of children desired is 3, with almost identical proportions selecting 2, 3, or 4 children. Members of different religious groups did not differ significantly in their ideal age at marriage or desired number of children. Males had a higher ideal age at marriage (27) than females (25), a higher expected age at marriage, and a large rdesired number of children. The mean number of children desired, 3.18, is smaller than the Filipino modal family size of 7 in 1967, possibly indicating that attitudes toward having large families are changing. Considering that males want more children than females, and considering the traditional emphasis on male decision making after marriage, more attention should be paid to males in family planning programs.