Changes in Marriage and Fertility Behavior: Behavior Versus Attitudes of Young Adults

This report examines a variety of data regarding current trends in adolescents' sexual, fertility, and marital behavior and discusses evidence regarding the permanence of these trends. Behavioral data are compared with attitudinal measures to conclude that there are significant differences between the conduct and values of young adults. The report suggests that policies which can bring adolescents' actions in line with their attitudes may be able to affect the disturbing increases in adolescent sex, premarital sex, abortion, non-marital childbearing, and divorce. [29 PDF pages]