Attitudes toward marriage and family among the unmarried Japanese youth: major findings of the Ninth Japanese National Fertility Survey
Atoh, M.; Nakano, E.; Otani, K.; Kaneko, R.
Jinko Mondai Kenkyu 1988(188): 1-21
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0387-2793 PMID: 12155015 Document Number: 523000
The Institute of Population Problems, Ministry of Health and Welfare, conducted the Survey on the Attitudes toward Marriage and Family among Youth on June 4, 1987 as a part of the Ninth Japanese National Fertility Survey. The survey covered a nationally representative sample of 7246 unmarried Japanese men and women aged 18-34 which were chosen by a cluster sampling method. Some major findings of the survey follow. 1) Less than 5% of singles intend to remain unmarried permanently. This % has increased somewhat for males and younger singles since the previous survey. 2) 70% of the unmarried report financial problems as the main obstacle to marriage. 3) Respondents report that the main benefit of marriage is peace of mind and the main cost of marriage is lack of freedom. 4) More than 50% of the unmarried prefer a love match. Less than 20% want an arranged marriage; 41% of the males and 34% of the females report no preference. The % preferring a love match has increased since the previous survey. 5) Among the unmarried women under age 23, the average desired age at marriage for females is 24.6. The average desired age at marriage for males under age 26 is 27.3. The average desired age gap between spouses is about 3 years. 6) About 60% of male respondents and 40% of female respondents intend to live with their own parents sometime after marriage; about 40% of males and about 60% of females intend to live with their spouse's parents. 7) About 50% of the men and 40% of the women do not have friends of the opposite sex because such an association is perceived to affect marriage intentions. 8) Less than 3% of the unmarried have cohabited. 53% of male respondents and 30% of female respondents have had sexual intercourse. 9) 58% of the women desired 2 children and 29% desired 3. The average number of children desired is 2.2; this number decreases with respondent's age. Though boy preference in male respondents is apparent, the girl preference in both male and female respondents has increased since the last survey.