Social and Demographic Factors Associated with Couples' Choice between Covenant and Standard Marriage in Louisiana

Laura Sanchez, Bowling Green State University
Steven Nock, University of Virginia
James D. Wright, Central Florida University
Julia C. Wilson, University of Virginia

Using new data from newlywed covenant and standard couples married since passage of the 1997 Louisiana covenant marriage law, we examine the desirability of covenant marriage among women and men, the factors associated with couples' choice of a standard versus covenant marriage, and the prevalence and dynamics of couple negotiations and conflict over the choice to have a covenant versus standard marriage. We analyze which partner wanted the covenant marriage option more, the extensiveness of counseling couples engaged in prior to marriage, whether this counseling influenced their choice about options, whether social networks or dynamics in the courtship influenced marriage option choice, and whether covenant-married couples had more marriage preparation training than standard-married couples. We also examine the conflict couples experienced over the choice of options, and which partner was more likely to "lose" during compromises. Last, we address couples' satisfaction with their marriage option choice.