June 2016 – The U.S. National Center for Health Statistics reports that while Americans have become more liberal on same sex marriage, gay adoption, and cohabitation, they are less likely to view divorce as the best solution for marriage problems. The March 17 report, based on the most recent National Survey of Family Growth from 2011 to 2013, says the percentage of women who believe divorce is a good option fell from 46.7% in 2002 to 38% in 2013. Likewise, the view of men changed from 44.3% advocating divorce in 2002 to 39.3% in 2013.
Americans have grown more open to the idea of cohabitation, a trend that may harken back to a 2004 Gallup poll in which nearly 70% of teens approved of couples moving in together before marriage. However, those who reject cohabitation are less likely to face divorce. The National Center survey found that couples who do not live together before marriage have about a 60% likelihood of staying married at least 20 years. The potential of staying married that long for those who did cohabit before marriage is less than 50%.
