HHS HealthBeat (February 1, 2012)

Learning and waiting

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Forming a family happens with some people later than with others. At the National Center for Family and Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, researchers say people with at least a bachelor’s degree were least likely to form a family before age 25, and those with a high school equivalency diploma were most likely.

Researcher Susan Brown: 

``Clearly, education appears to have a significant effect on family formation experiences, slowing down that process of either forming a union or having a birth.’’ (10 seconds)

The researchers expect more delays, partly because people often don’t want to marry until they are economically set.

The study was supported by HHS’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: February 1, 2012