Youth Perception on Marriage and Married Life: an Analysis from the Republic of Macedonia

Abstract

In the public opinion today, the notion that marriage - as the foundation of the family - is in crisis or disappearance is prevalent than ever. As arguments are listed series of statistical indicators for: the reduced number of marriages, increased number of divorces, decreased birth rate, and large number of single people who either avoid marriage or do not form a family at all. Young people seem uninterested in marriage as a community; they enjoy the freedom by living in cohabitation or under the warm roof of their parents. The above-mentioned phenomena incited our research interest mainly for two reasons: firstly, we observe common life-style changes and how they affect individuals and the entire society. Secondly, we analyze changes that occur in marriage as a community and their impact on family as a whole and its declarative existence. The main idea of this paper is to examine to what extend marriage is in crisis in the Republic of Macedonia. Our research subject is the significance of marriage for young people who are yet to marry. For this purpose we conducted a quantitative survey among 120 students in order to determine their positions and opinions about marriage and married life and thus to predict future developments and possible trends of marriage and family.