Abstract
This study examines the factors associated with African American men’s attitudes toward marriage as well as the circumstances and experiences that helped shape their attitudes. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, survey and in-depth interview data were collected from a diverse sample of African American men. Quantitative results revealed that men’s report of religiosity, their parents’ family structure, and not having a fear of intimacy predicted more favorable attitudes toward marriage. Qualitative analyses corroborated the quantitative analyses, revealing that the participants’ attitudes were influenced by their family of origin and that they viewed the church and the government as central figures in both the retreat from marriage and any viable initiatives aimed at increasing marriage rates among African Americans.
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