For Millennials, Parenthood Trumps Marriage

Young adults who are 18-to 29-years-old, labeled Millennials, value parenthood far more than they value marriage, according to new analysis of attitudinal surveys by the Pew Research Center.

According to the analysis, 52 percent of Millennials say that being a good parent is "one of the most important things" in life whereas 30 percent say the same about a strong marriage. This accounts for a 22-percentage-point gap in the way Millennials value parenthood and marriage. In 1997, the gap was 9 percentage points for members of what is known as Generation X.

There is also evidence that Millennials are delaying marriage. According to survey results, 22 percent of Millennials are currently married, whereas nearly 30 percent of Generation Xers were married back when they were the same age that Millennials are now.

Data for the report are based on a Pew Research Center nationwide telephone survey of 2,691 adults and from the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Surveys. The report was released in March 2011.

Read the report.