Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Marriage, Polyamorous Marriage, and Conventional Marriage Ideals Among College Students in the Southeastern United States

• Published in: Sexuality & culture 2022-10, Vol.26 (5), p.1599-1620
• Main Authors: Kaufman, Gayle, Aiello, Alex, Ellis, Camryn, Compton, D’Lane
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitudes; College students; Equality; Gay couples; Heterosexuality; Homosexuality; Legislation; Original Article; Personality and Social Psychology; Political attitudes; Political ideologies; Polyamory; Psychology; Public opinion; Regional and Cultural Studies; Same sex marriage; Social Sciences; Student attitudes; Students; Tolerance
• ISSN: 1095-5143; 1936-4822
• DOI: 10.1007/s12119-022-09960-y

This study examines the idea that attitudes toward marriage are liberalizing in the US in the face of federal recognition of same-sex marriage legislation by examining attitudes toward conventional marriage ideals, same-sex marriage, and polyamorous marriage. It draws on a sample of liberal arts college students ( n  = 330) in the southeastern United States as a representation of a cohort more flexible to change and greater social tolerance. Findings indicate shifts away from conventional marriage and toward marriage as more inclusive of same-sex couples. At the same time, less than half support polyamorous marriage. Unsurprisingly, religious students are more likely to support conventional marriage ideals and less likely to support same-sex marriage and students with conservative political ideology are less likely to support same-sex marriage or polyamorous marriage. In particular, the negative impact of political ideology on these attitudes is stronger for men and straight students. Women are more likely than men to support same-sex marriage. LGBQ students are less likely to support conventional views of marriage and more likely to support polyamorous marriage than heterosexual students. While college students today have entered adulthood in the age of marriage equality, and are accepting of same-sex unions, students indicate more mixed feelings about what marriage encompasses, the value of marriage, and whether to support polyamorous marriage.