2003/06/01 by Linda J. Waite, Evelyn L. Lehrer · 383 citations
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Census #Demography #Family planning #Gender studies #Law #National Survey of Family Growth #Political science #Population #Psychology #Religion and Society Interactions #Religion, Society, and Development #Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology #Religiosity #Religious organization #Research methodology #Social psychology #Sociology #State (computer science)
paper · doi:10.1111/j.1728-4457.2003.00255.x
published in Population and Development Review 29(2), 255-275 (Wiley)
openalex publication_date 2003/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25
America is a religious nation. The vast majority of Americans, when asked, profess a belief in God and affirm that religion is at least "fairly important" in their lives (Myers 2000: 285); about 60 percent of the population report membership in a religious organization and 45 percent state that they attend religious services at least monthly (Sherkat and Ellison 1999). Most American adults are currently married and almost all will marry at some time in their lives. About two-thirds of children live with their married (biological or adoptive) parents ( U.S. Census Bureau 2001). And marriage and a happy family life are almost universal goals for young adults.