Family

Marriage and fertility rates have reached all-time lows in the U.S. in recent years, as fewer people marry or have children. These trends are likely to continue in the future. In 2023, only 72% of 18-year-old women in the U.S. said they were likely to have children, down from 85% in the late 2000s.

Brian Willoughby, a Wheatley Institute Family Fellow, contributed an article to the Deseret News about a sharp decline in dating among young American adults. Willoughby cites financial pressures, low confidence, and shifting priorities as factors in this "disconnect from romance, dating and marriage."

Using over a decade of data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Wheatley Fellow Dr. Samuel Wilkinson's study finds that unmarried individuals are consistently at higher risk for suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts—and that the protective effect of marriage has grown over time, especially among those who have never married and young people have de-prioritized marriage as an important life goal.

Wheatley Distinguished Fellow Shima Baughman contributed an op-ed to Newsweek examining the decline of American trust in marriage, a trend now increasingly reflected in popular media. Baughman cites studies showing marriage rates at historic lows and an increasing public sentiment viewing marriage as old-fashioned or restrictive. But despite shifting public attitudes, marriage continues to be research-proven way to provide happiness for parents and stability for children.

Wheatley Family Fellow Jenet Erickson was quoted in a New York Times article covering recent discussion on federal family legislation. Erickson, who previously co-authored an essay in 2021 with Vice President JD Vance emphasizing the importance of stay-at-home parents, reiterated the natural capacities of mothers to bond with their children.

Wheatley Institute and the National Marriage Project's Spring Conference focused on the nature and consequences of marriage and motherhood, featuring presentations by academic experts and a journalist panel discussion.

Wheatley Institute Family Director Jason Carroll wrote an article with Wheatley Fellow Brian J. Willoughby for the Institute of Family Studies about the harmful effects of pornography use on marriages, mentioning recent studies linking pornography use to decreased marital commitment and satisfaction, worse mental health, and increased rates of divorce.

Wheatley Fellows Jenet Erickson and Loren Marks contributed an article to the Public Square Magazine exploring the sacrifices made by mothers and their profound impact on a child's life. They argue that well-intentioned feminist efforts have begun to devalue the vital institutions of marriage and family, placing more importance on autonomy and prestige—when family and motherhood bring a deeper satisfaction. They look at the issue through a religious lens, comparing scripture and prophetic teachings to data and statistics, including a recent report in collaboration with Jason Carroll, Wheatley Institute's Family Initiative Director.