State and Local Research Studies

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To understand the state of relationships, marriage, and divorce in the U.S., researchers have conducted studies at the State and local level. In a few States, these studies have been done to create a "baseline," or starting point of understanding against which progress can be measured moving forward.

California

The State of California's Unions: Marriage and Divorce in the Golden State

This survey, California’s Unions: Marriage and Divorce in the Golden State was commissioned by the California Healthy Marriages Coalition, who is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. The survey sought to (1) determine how California residents view marriage, divorce and marriage education; (2) gain understanding about residents’ marriage and relationships, past and present, including relationship quality and family support; and (3) examine findings by demographic variables including gender, age, income, ethnicity, political affiliation, and religious involvement.

Florida

Family Formation in Florida: 2003 Baseline Survey of Attitudes, Beliefs, and Demographics Relating to Marriage and Family Formation

Funded by the Florida Department of Children and Families and conducted by researchers at the University of Florida, this survey sought to describe the range of family structures in Florida, the attitudes of Floridians towards marriage, family formation, and marriage education, and the characteristics associated with healthy intimate relationships. More than 4,500 adult residents in Florida were interviewed over the phone regarding these and related topics.

Kentucky

The Kentucky Marriage Attitudes Study, 2004 Baseline Survey (PDF - 341 KB)

This document serves as the project report for the 2003-2004 Research Activity Award
granted to provide benchmark measures regarding attitudes about marriage in
Kentucky. The study was designed to provide insight and direction for interventions if
such actions are initiated and as means by which to evaluate outcomes of potential
future relationship education interventions and/or marriage initiatives. The Research
Center for Families and Children at the University of Kentucky has focused efforts
toward gathering and reporting data regarding attitudes about marriage rather than
promoting specific programs or positions.

Michigan

State of the State Survey: Marriage in Michigan, Factors that Affect Satisfaction, Clifford Broman, Institute for Public Policy and Social Research, Michigan State University (2000) (PDF - 80 KB)

This report uses data from the State of the State survey conducted by the Institute in 1999, which interviewed nearly 1,500 residents on their volunteer activities, mental health, families, and marriage. The report examines factors that contribute to happy marriages in Michigan, and the extent to which marital happiness differs across social and economic status.

Formative Research Report; Together We Can: Creating a Healthy Future for our Family (two-county Michigan survey) 2007 (PDF - 276 KB)

This report highlights the findings from focus groups and surveys conducted in Pontiac and Saginaw Michigan by the Michigan State University Extension Service to inform the development of a community-based healthy marriage initiative. Report includes attitudes towards marriage, parenting, co-parenting, and other relationship issues.

Minnesota

Crime and Marriage in Minnesota and the Nation: If Wedding Rings Help Break Vicious and Violent Cycles, What's Impeding Them from Doing So More Often, Mitchell Pearlstein, Ph.D., American Experiment Quarterly (2005) (PDF - 163 KB)

This essay discusses the role of crime in the decline of marriage in Minnesota and in the broader United States. It examines the effect of collateral sanctions (laws that prohibit ex-offenders from holding certain types of jobs) and other employment barriers faced by formerly incarcerated men on their propensity to marry.

The Minnesota Income Tax Marriage Credit (2006) (PDF - 225 KB)

Written by the Minnesota House of Representatives Research Department in 2006, this document describes marriage penalties in the Minnesota and federal tax codes and how the state's income tax marriage credit is designed to reduce the effect of that penalty on married couples.

Oklahoma

Marriage in Oklahoma: A Statewide Baseline Survey on Marriage and Divorce (2001-2002)

To develop programs to promote and strengthen marriage for Oklahoma residents, the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative (OMI), launched by former Governor Frank Keating in 1998, commissioned a survey to understand marriage and divorce rates in the state, as well as Oklahomans' attitudes towards marriage. In partnership with Oklahoma State University's Bureau for Social Research, and a group of nationally-recognized researchers and sociologists serving as advisors, the OMI designed and completed the first comprehensive statewide survey on marriage in the United States. The survey included questions on attitudes about relationships, demographic data on marriage, divorce, remarriage, patterns of cohabitation, and intent to marry/remarry, relationship quality, and views toward marriage education.

Tennessee

The State of the Family 2006 (Hamilton County, TN) (PDF - 560 KB)

Developed by the nonprofit organization First Things First in Chatanooga, this report offers demographic data and attitudes regarding marriage, divorce, and family formation for residents of Hamilton County, Tennessee.

Texas

Twogether in Texas: Baseline Report on Marriage in the Lone Star State, 2008 (PDF - 7 MB)

Measures and analyzes attitudes and beliefs related to healthy marriage. With over 2,500 Texans participating in phone interviews, which included questions on marriage, divorce, cohabitation and family roles, researchers were able to represent the diverse population of the state and subsequently develop a culturally relevant report on their findings. The authors of this report were careful to avoid extensive references to statistical procedures, and instead focused on developing a document that is equal-parts approachable and educational.

Utah

Marriage in Utah: 2003 Utah Baseline Statewide Survey on Marriage and Divorce (PDF - 300 KB)

Inspired by Oklahoma's 2001 Baseline Statewide Survey on Marriage and Divorce conducted in 2003, Utah launched a similar survey to help guide its state-level efforts to develop programs and policies that promote and strengthen marriage. This report provides the highlights of the 2003 Utah Baseline Statewide Survey on Marriage and Divorce prepared by researchers at Utah State University, in conjunction with Oklahoma State University's Bureau for Social Research. The survey includes demographic data on marriage, divorce, remarriage, and patterns of cohabitation among Utah residents. It also explores Utahans' perspective on the quality of their marriages, as well as overall attitudes towards marriage and divorce, with particular attention to the thoughts of young adults and low-income residents. Information is also provided on the impact of mental health and substance abuse problems on the quality of Utahan's unions.