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GSS 1972-2024 Cumulative Datafile - Release 3


Marriage and Child Bearing

femarryway of life recommendation for woman
Text of this Question or Item
If you were advising a young woman, which of the following ways of 
life would you recommend?
Percent N Value Label
11.0 131 1 live alone
3.1 37 2 live with posslq
31.2 372 3 cohabitate, then marry
54.7 652 4 marry


197 .d can't choose


67,432 .i iap


25 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
memarryway of life recommendation for man
Text of this Question or Item
If you were advising a young man, which of the following ways of life 
would  you recommend?
Percent N Value Label
12.0 143 1 live alone
3.4 40 2 live with posslq
31.1 369 3 cohabitate, then marry
53.5 636 4 marry


199 .d can't choose


67,432 .i iap


27 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
marhappymarried people happier than unmarried
Text of this Question or Item
Do you agree or disagree? 
A. Married people are generally happier than unmarried people.
Percent N Value Label
13.3 673 1 strongly agree
31.5 1,601 2 agree
31.5 1,600 3 neither agree nor disagree
18.8 953 4 disagree
4.9 249 5 strongly disagree


209 .d can't choose


63,512 .i iap


49 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
marfreepersonal freedom more impt than marriage
Text of this Question or Item
Do you agree or disagree? 
B. Personal freedom is more important than the companionship of 
marriage.
Percent N Value Label
4.2 115 1 strongly agree
11.3 312 2 agree
20.3 563 3 neither agree nor disagree
48.0 1,329 4 disagree
16.3 452 5 strongly disagree


73 .d can't choose


65,972 .i iap


30 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
marfinfinancial security main advtg of marriage
Text of this Question or Item
Do you agree or disagree? 
C. The main advantage of marriage is that it gives financial 
security.
Percent N Value Label
3.6 100 1 strongly agree
13.2 365 2 agree
20.0 555 3 neither agree nor disagree
49.1 1,359 4 disagree
14.1 391 5 strongly disagree


46 .d can't choose


65,985 .i iap


45 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
markidsmain purpose of marriage = kids
Text of this Question or Item
Do you agree or disagree? 
D. The main purpose of marriage these days is to have children.
Percent N Value Label
2.1 58 1 strongly agree
10.4 287 2 agree
17.2 476 3 neither agree nor disagree
54.1 1,493 4 disagree
16.2 447 5 strongly disagree


54 .d can't choose


65,985 .i iap


46 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
marnomarbad marriage better than none at all
Text of this Question or Item
Do you agree or disagree? 
E. It is better to have a bad marriage than no marriage at all.
Percent N Value Label
1.5 59 1 strongly agree
2.9 115 2 agree
5.5 217 3 neither agree nor disagree
38.6 1,518 4 disagree
51.4 2,022 5 strongly disagree


51 .d can't choose


64,814 .i iap


50 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
marlegitthose wanting kids should get married
Text of this Question or Item
Do you agree or disagree? 
F. People who want children ought to get married.
Percent N Value Label
27.8 1,759 1 strongly agree
36.2 2,289 2 agree
16.5 1,044 3 neither agree nor disagree
14.6 926 4 disagree
4.8 304 5 strongly disagree


105 .d can't choose


65,893 .i iap


63 .n no answer


7 .s skipped on web


3,309 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
marmakidsingle ma can raise kids well as couple
Text of this Question or Item
Do you agree or disagree? 
G. A single mother can bring up her child as well as a married 
couple.
Percent N Value Label
14.8 371 1 strongly agree
35.0 874 2 agree
15.2 381 3 neither agree nor disagree
26.9 672 4 disagree
8.1 202 5 strongly disagree


45 .d can't choose


69,813 .i iap


27 .n no answer


5 .s skipped on web


3,309 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
marpakidsingle pa can raise kids well as couple
Text of this Question or Item
Do you agree or disagree? 
H. A single father can bring up his child as well as a married 
couple.
Percent N Value Label
13.1 327 1 strongly agree
31.9 796 2 agree
16.8 418 3 neither agree nor disagree
29.3 730 4 disagree
8.9 223 5 strongly disagree


48 .d can't choose


69,813 .i iap


30 .n no answer


5 .s skipped on web


3,309 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
mardivmarriage not taken seriously when div is easy
Text of this Question or Item
Do you agree or disagree? 
I. Couples don''t take marriage seriously enough when divorce is 
easily available.
Percent N Value Label
21.5 293 1 strongly agree
44.2 603 2 agree
16.6 227 3 neither agree nor disagree
14.3 195 4 disagree
3.4 47 5 strongly disagree


26 .d can't choose


67,432 .i iap


23 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
martypemarital type
Text of this Question or Item
This based on information coded by interviewer and information in the 
Household Enumeration Form and other parts of the questionnaire.
Percent N Value Label
98.3 6,316 1 marriage between a man and a woman
0.9 58 2 marriage between two people of the same gender
0.8 49 3 not sure


69,275 .i iap


1 .s skipped on web

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z

Family Size

numkidswhat is ideal number of kids for family
Text of this Question or Item
All in all, what do you think is the ideal number of children for a 
family to have?  Please just write a number in the box below.
Percent N Value Label
0.9 46 0
2.5 123 1
54.7 2,674 2
27.1 1,323 3
11.4 559 4
1.9 92 5
0.8 37 6
0.7 32 7 seven or more


182 .d don't know


67,066 .i iap


220 .n no answer


36 .s skipped on web


3,309 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
nokidsdesirability of no-kid family
Text of this Question or Item
In general, what do you feel about each of these family sizes? 
A. A family with no children
Percent N Value Label
4.3 53 1 very desirable
13.7 167 2 desirable
38.7 473 3 neither
30.0 366 4 undesirable
13.3 162 5 very undesirable


114 .d can't choose


67,432 .i iap


79 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
onekiddesirability of one-kid family
Text of this Question or Item
In general, what do you feel about each of these family sizes? 
B. A family with one child
Percent N Value Label
7.6 96 1 very desirable
46.3 583 2 desirable
24.4 307 3 neither
19.0 239 4 undesirable
2.6 33 5 very undesirable


59 .d can't choose


67,432 .i iap


97 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
twokidsdesirability of two-kid family
Text of this Question or Item
In general, what do you feel about each of these family sizes? 
C. A family with two children
Percent N Value Label
27.6 358 1 very desirable
55.9 726 2 desirable
13.0 169 3 neither
2.5 32 4 undesirable
1.0 13 5 very undesirable


48 .d can't choose


67,432 .i iap


68 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
threkidsdesirability of three-kid family
Text of this Question or Item
In general, what do you feel about each of these family sizes? 
D. A family with three kids
Percent N Value Label
16.7 214 1 very desirable
46.1 590 2 desirable
23.3 299 3 neither
10.9 140 4 undesirable
3.0 38 5 very undesirable


57 .d can't choose


67,432 .i iap


76 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
fourkidsdesirability of 4+ kid family
Text of this Question or Item
In general, what do you feel about each of these family sizes? 
E. A family with four children or more
Percent N Value Label
12.2 154 1 very desirable
24.9 314 2 desirable
26.6 335 3 neither
23.8 300 4 undesirable
12.4 156 5 very undesirable


84 .d can't choose


67,432 .i iap


71 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
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