The percentage of American adults who consider children “very important” to a successful marriage has dropped sharply since 1990, according to a new survey.

The Pew Research Center survey on marriage and parenting also found that, by a margin of nearly 3-1, Americans say the main purpose of marriage is the “mutual happiness and fulfillment” of adults rather than the “bearing and raising of children.”

The survey found that children had fallen to eighth out of nine on a list of factors that people associate with successful marriages — well behind “sharing household chores,” “good housing,” “adequate income,” a “happy sexual relationship” and “faithfulness.” …

Source: Detroit Free Press
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