Małżeństwo i rozwody w świadomości młodzieży polskiej przełomu XX i XXI wieku w świetle badań socjologicznych

Abstract

This article presents an analysis of attitudes (views, attitudes and actions) of high school and university students in Poland in the 20th century and in both decades of the 21st century towards the institution of marriage and towards marital divorce. The analysis is based on the results of various sociological studies carried out in both periods. The attitudes of Polish youth to marriage and divorce include the following issues: marriage as a fundamental and solemn value; sacramental marriage – its indissolubility and durability; young people’s attitudes towards church and civil weddings; young people’s attitudes towards marital divorce and family breakdown. Empirical indicators show the process of durability and changes in the attitude of Polish youth to marriage and divorce at the turn of the two centuries – both to sacramental marriage and to civil marriages. What factors contributing to the durability of the marriage were noticed by the surveyed youth, and what were the most common reasons for its breakdown and led directly to the splitting up of the spouses? How did the surveyed youth personally perceive and assess the durability of marriage, and as divorce as a result of its disintegration.

Keywords

• sacramental marriage
• secular marriage
• church weddings
• secular weddings
• divorces
• high school students