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https://doi.org/10.4054/DemRes.2014.31.35
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Religion and union formation in Italy: Catholic precepts, social pressure, and tradition
[journal article]
Abstract Background: Italy is customarily viewed as a traditional Catholic country. At the same time, couples are increasingly living together without marrying. Establishing links between religion and family formation is a complex issue and little is known about specific mechanisms through which religion sha... view more
Background: Italy is customarily viewed as a traditional Catholic country. At the same time, couples are increasingly living together without marrying. Establishing links between religion and family formation is a complex issue and little is known about specific mechanisms through which religion shapes family change in the country. Objective: We aim to shed light on which aspects of religion are important in decisions about family formation. Methods: We analyze data from eight focus group interviews conducted in Florence. In the transcripts we identify any references to religion and systematically compare categories to investigate how religiosity intertwines with relationship choices. We apply bottom-up coding procedures to identify meaning and concepts within three theoretically relevant areas: Catholic precepts, social pressure, and tradition. Results: Despite the predominance of religion in the studied setting, Italians behave without according much importance to Catholic precepts and dogmas. Religion seems to influence people's family behaviors through social pressures to marry generated by the family of origin and the judgment of 'others'. Tradition also plays an important role. Conclusions: The widely prevailing pressure of parents and peers and the hedonistic aspects of the traditional Church wedding seem to be more important in partnership formation than Catholic prescripts. Thus, we posit that the direct effect of religion on individual choices is overestimated when interpreting the Italian family. In addition, we note the divergence that exists between the lack of state laws concerning consensual unions and the acceptance of cohabitation on an individual basis.... view less
Keywords
Italy; marriage; family formation; fertility; domestic partnership; life style; religiousness; tradition; religious socialization
Classification
Family Sociology, Sociology of Sexual Behavior
Free Keywords
cohabitation; focus group research
Document language
English
Publication Year
2014
Page/Pages
p. 1079-1106
Journal
Demographic Research, 31 (2014)
Issue topic
Focus on Partnerships: Discourses on cohabitation and marriage throughout Europe and Australia
ISSN
1435-9871
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed