University of Tokyo

Abstract
Survey Number 1134
Survey Title Internet Survey on The Decision-Making of Marriage, 2016
Depositor Economic and Social Research Institute, Cabinet Office, The Government of Japan
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Educational Purpose Available for both research and instructional purposes.
Period of Data Use Permission One year
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Nesstar Not available
Summary This survey was administered to males and females between the ages of 25 and 34 to analyze the types of causal factors in the background of the decision to marry or not, on the basis of the view that being able to marry when one so chooses will alleviate the growing trend toward not marrying, as well as declining birthrates.

With respect to the decline in marriage rates in Japan since 1970, which has led to a decline in birthrates, these changes are considered to be both quantitative and qualitative in nature (changes to the type of first marriage) and have resulted in a situation that finds many young people having to give up on marriage, even if they have the desire to marry. In the context of this situation, however, there are people of both genders who do manage to get married, in line with their wishes. This survey was conducted to analyze the causal factors involved in how such decisions to marry are formed.

The content of the survey is as follows.
For three years prior, at the time of the survey (current), or at the time of engagement, respectively:
(1) Regarding first meeting and relationship before marriage
(2) Regarding lifestyle
(3) Regarding way of working
(4) Regarding values
(5) Regarding social capital
(6) Regarding marriage
Data Type quantitative research
quantitative research: micro data
Universe Males and females aged between 25 and 34 who were "unmarried but in a relationship with a person of a different gender" and "are still currently unmarried and both respondent and relationship partner have never been married," or, are currently married, and both partners are in their first marriage"
Unit of Observation Individual
Sample Size Valid responses: 13,321 people (Target number of valid responses: Over 10,200)
Date of Collection 2016-02-29 ~ 2016-03-25
2016/02/29 – 03/25
Time Period 2016 ~ 2016
Spatial Unit Japan
Japan
Sampling Procedure Non-probability: Quota
Sampling was performed to ensure that more than half of the target number of responses in terms of marital status and gender was secured and so that there was no extreme deviation from the National Census in terms of region (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kinki, Chugoku/Shikoku, Kyushu/Okinawa).
Mode of Data Collection Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)
Internet survey of people registered by survey company monitors
Investigator Economic and Social Research Institute, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, contract survey by Idea Progget
DOI 10.34500/SSJDA.1134
Sponsors (Funds)
Related Publications (by the Investigator) Please refer to the abstract in Japanese.
Related Publications (based on Secondary Analysis) List of related publications (based on Secondary Analysis)
Documentation [Chosa-hyo][Syukei-hyo]
Major Survey Items [Face items]
Gender, birth month and year, last school graduated from as of three years prior, area of residence as of the third year of junior high school, graduation from senior high school, entering first employment, and present time

For three years prior, at the time of the survey (current), or at the time of engagement, respectively:
[Shared items]
(1) Regarding first meeting and relationship before marriage
Time of meeting relationship/marriage partner, trigger for meeting relationship/marriage partner, trigger for beginning relationship, respondent's and relationship/marriage partner's highest level of education, Relationship partner's form of employment, occupation, annual income, and scale of employer in terms of employee number, Frequency of communication with relationship partner

(2) Regarding lifestyle
Living with/apart from parents, distance from relationship/marriage partner's area of residence, how leisure time is spent

(3) Regarding way of working
Daily/monthly working hours, weekly days off, working periods (shifts, night, early morning, normal), Desired future way of working, motivation toward job/existence of specific targets in respondent's job

(4) Regarding values
Lifestyle satisfaction and future prospects, sense of fulfillment, opinion regarding division of labor between marriage partners, daily activity (frequency of division of labor of cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc.)

(5) Regarding social capital
People the respondent can trust (family, friends, administration, etc.), activities participated in and frequency, opportunities for meeting people of the opposite gender

[Three years prior]
Number of siblings of relationship partner, plan to live with parents, circumstances concerning lifestyle, location of residence, number of years spent in residence, intentions regarding residence, trends in consumption and savings, desire to marry relationship partner, reasons for wanting to marry, reasons for not wanting to marry, regarding desire of relationship partner to marry respondent, regarding continuation of relationship with partner of three years prior, existence of specific marriage plans with relationship partner, existence of previous relationship partner before the current partner

[Present time]
Occupation of relationship partner, income of respondent and relationship/marriage partner, who first decided (respondent/partner) to end the relationship of three years prior, Reasons for ending the relationship, desire to marry relationship partner, reasons for wanting to marry, when the respondent started thinking about wanting to marry their current marriage partner, reasons for not wanting to marry, regarding desire of relationship partner to marry respondent, regarding relationship and surrounding interactions, highest level of education of marriage partner

[Time of engagement]
Annual income of respondent and relationship/marriage partner, Intentions regarding residence/reasons, reasons for not wanting to continue living in the same place, regarding relationship and surrounding interactions, time of marriage, reason for wanting to get married, whether respondent or partner first decided to get married, number of children, time of birth

* For details on survey items, please refer to the questionnaire.
Date of Release 2018/08/21
Topics in CESSDA Click here for details

Working conditions
Family life and marriage
Social behaviour and attitudes
Topics in SSJDA Society/Culture
Version 1 : 2018-08-21
Notes for Users