Single Men and Women’s Perception of Marriage and Its Effects on their Relationships and Attitudes Towards their Respective Partners

Abstract

In a time when failed marriages and the family unit mean that the very fabric of society is disintegrating, everyone gets concerned about the need to stabilize the family and strengthen the home. According to a study conducted in the United States of America, so much could be done to help solve the problem of the weakening marriage institution, but this course of action is only based on an assumption. The assumption states that correct knowledge will reverse the problems and meet the needs is incorrect. The study says, not until society addresses the things that attack and destroy relationships, the family situation will not improve or basically deteriorate. According to the study, providing couples with basic skills and understanding of what marriage means will be the saving grace of this marriage crisis.

This study was then conducted to find out today’s single men and women’s perception of marriage and its effects on their relationships and attitudes towards their respective partners. Specifically, the researcher sought to answer the following questions: 1) How many from the respondents believe in marriage? 2) How do the respondents perceive marriage based on the Canon Law’s definition? 3) Does perception of marriage affect the relationships and attitudes of respondents towards their respective partners in terms of selectivity in choosing a spouse, making/accepting commitment, improving oneself, intimacy and sexual behavior, wariness of prospective violent partner, and engaging in illicit relationships? Likewise, this study tested the awareness level of the respondents as to the four important necessities in having successful marriage according to a US research study.

To arrive at its objectives, this study used the Survey Research Design as its research methodology. The questionnaire contained 14 close-ended statements based on the subject matter. The respondents to the questionnaire were tallied, tabulated, organized and summarized to draw significant relations. This qualitative research study used the Descriptive Analysis in which words and figures were used to convey what the researcher learned about the phenomenon.

The results showed that there was significant relationship between today’s single men and women’s perception of marriage and their relationships and attitudes towards their respective partners. Majority of the respondents who believe in marriage agreed with the Canon’s Law definition of marriage which helped them gain positive attitudes in terms of their being selective of a spouse, making/accepting commitment, improving themselves being cautious of their sexual behavior, being wary of prospective violent partner, and being careful of illicit relationships. However, from the four important necessities in having a successful marriage which the US study cited, only three of them namely: unconditional love, communication skills and definition of marriage, were taken correctly by respondents. What they failed to include was building relationship. Instead, respondents chose compatibility, stable job, and deep spirituality as other important necessities that lead to a successful marriage.

Based on the results of this study, the researcher concluded that despite the continuous rise in the number of married couples separating every year, our marriage institution has still great hope. This study showed that positive perception of marriage among single men and women today results to their favorable attitudes towards their respective partners. Therefore, the researcher believes that to redeem today’s marriage crisis, there is a need for couples to be provided with basic skills and understanding of what really marriage is. Hence, it is recommended that different institutions such as the family, school, church and other civic groups work hand-in-hand in creating programs that will disseminate information and promote better understanding of what marriage means is all about.