The Influence of Developmental Idealism on Marital Values, Intentions, and Timing

• In Event: 381 - Section on the Sociology of the Family Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 07. Marriage

Abstract

Developmental idealism (DI) is a collection of values and beliefs that identify certain family behaviors as good and “modern” and connect such behaviors to socioeconomic development. Recent theory suggests DI is an important source of variation and change in family behavior, yet this suggestion is largely untested at the individual level. This study examines the influence of DI on entrance into marriage. We hypothesize that when individuals and their parents endorse DI, they enter into marriage more slowly. We also hypothesize that two pathways are the instillation of older timing values and expectations of marrying at older ages. We test these hypotheses using data from a longitudinal survey in Nepal that followed young people and their parents from 2008 to 2012. When young people and their parents endorsed DI, the young people valued slightly older ages at marriage and expected to marry later. However, DI endorsement did not delay their entrance into marriage.

Authors

• Keera Allendorf, Indiana University

• Tina Wells, University of Michigan

• Linda Young-DeMarco, Institute for Social Research