In an analysis of large national surveys from the 1990s and early 2000s, Gerstel and Sarkisian found that married Americans were less likely than unmarried or divorced Americans to live with, visit, or call relatives. Married Americans socialized with neighbors or friends less than unmarried Americans, were far less likely to take care of aging parents than unmarried adult children, and were less politically involved. Gerstel and Sarkisian conclude that marriage, instead of being the cornerstone of community, as many politicians and experts claim, often strains community ties.
A lurking variable is omitted whose obviousness escapes the author 🙂
