XN000022-1981-10-04 — Page 2

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1981

STUDY ON ATTITUDES TOWARDS MARRIAGE

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THE CONTENTS OF FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES INTENDED FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE SHOULD BE EXPANDED TU COVER SUCH ASPECTS OF MARRIAGE AND MARRIED IFE AS PREPARATION FOR MARRIAGE, MARRIAGE ADJUSTMENT AND ENRICHMENT, RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD,

AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH IN-LAWS.

THIS IS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE IN A STUDY JOINTLY UNDERTAKEN BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE TO FIND OUT THE ATTITUDES OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION TOWARDS MARRIAGE.

THE YEAR-LONG STUDY WAS BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH MORE THAN 1 200 MARRIED AND UNMARRIED PEOPLE AGED BETWEEN 16 AND 34, ALL RESIDENTS OF THE URBAN AREAS AND THE THREE NEW TOWNS OF TSUEN WAN, TUEN MUN AND SHA TIN,

THE STUDY RECOMMENDS THAT IN FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES, THE YOUNGER GENERATION SHOULD BE EDUCATED ON +HUMAN SEXUALITY AND THE CONSEQUENCES AND RESPONSIBILITY ATTACHED TO IT.

ON PREPARATION FOR MARRIAGE, THESE PROGRAMMES SHOULD +HELP YOUNG PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE REAL MEANING OF LOVE, COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE BEFORE THEY COMMIT THEMSELVES TO A LIFE-LONG RELATIONSHIP+.

ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE GIVEN TO NEWLY-MARRIED COUPLES TO ADJUST TO LIVING WITH EACH OTHER AND PERHAPS WITH MEMBERS OF THE SPOUSE'S FAMILY,

APART FROM EXPANDING FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, THE STUDY RECOMMENDS THAT FAMILY COUNSELLING SERVICES +BE ACTIVELY PROMOTED SO THAT THOSE WHO ARE IN TROUBLE CAN COME FORWARD FOR ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE+.

THE STUDY WAS PROMPTED BY A FEELING, ON THE PART OF MANY SOCIAL WORKERS, THAT THEY LACK INFORMATION ON HOW YOUNG PEOPLE VIEW MARRIAGE, PARTICULARLY AT A TIME WHEN HONG KONG IS UNDERGOING RAPID SOCIAL CHANGES.

THE STUDY SHOWS THAT THERE IS A TENDENCY AMONG RESPONDENTS TO BELIEVE MORE IN THE IDEALISTIC SIDE OF LOVE, SUCH AS MUTUAL RESPECT AND MUTUAL CARING, WHEREAS MORE PRACTICAL ASPECTS, SUCH AS SHARING OF DIFFICULTIES, IS INFREQUENTLY PERCEIVED.

HOWEVER, MOST REALISE THAT LOVE TAKES TIME AND EFFORT TO DEVELOP AND IT JUST DOES NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

A COMPARATIVELY OPEN AND PERMISSIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS SEX IS EVIDENT FROM THE STUDY.

THIS APPLIES