Table 1.
Demographic Characteristics by Social Class
| Whole Sample |
Working Class |
Middle Class |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Number | 122 | 60 | 62 |
| Sex | |||
| Men | 62 | 31 | 31 |
| Women | 62 | 31 | 31 |
| Age | |||
| Mean age men (years) | 27.4 | 26.4 | 28.3 |
| Mean age women (years) | 24.8 | 24.4 | 25.2 |
| Education | |||
| HS/GED or less | 7.4% | 15.0% | 0.0% |
| Some college or Associate’s degree | 41.8% | 78.3% | 6.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 37.7% | 6.7% | 67.7% |
| Master’s degree or higher | 13.1% | 0.0% | 25.8% |
| Race | |||
| White | 76.2% | 68.3% | 83.9% |
| Latino | 6.6% | 10.0% | 3.2% |
| Black | 11.5% | 16.7% | 6.5% |
| Multiracial/other | 5.7% | 5.0% | 6.5% |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time worker | 67.2% | 51.7% | 83.9% |
| Part-time worker, not a student | 8.2% | 8.3% | 8.1% |
| Part-time worker and student | 18.9% | 31.7% | 6.5% |
| Not working for pay | 4.9% | 8.3% | 1.6% |
| Income | |||
| Mean income | $26,838 | $20,206 | $33,257 |
| No reported income | 5.7% | 6.7% | 9.4% |
| $0,001 – $19,999 | 33.6% | 46.7% | 21.0% |
| $20,000 – $39,999 | 41.8% | 38.3% | 45.2% |
| $40,000 – $59,999 | 11.5% | 8.3% | 14.5% |
| $60,000+ | 7.4% | 0.0% | 14.5% |
| Parenthood variables | |||
| Have children | 21.3% | 33.3% | 9.7% |
| Do not have children | 78.7% | 66.7% | 90.3% |
| Relationship history | |||
| Never married | 91.0% | 90.0% | 91.9% |
| Previously married | 9.0% | 10.0% | 8.1% |
| Never cohabited before | 69.7% | 66.7% | 72.6% |
| Previously cohabitated | 30.3% | 33.3% | 27.4% |
| Family history | |||
| Intact family at age 16 | 59.8% | 51.7% | 67.7% |
| Nonintact family at age 16 | 40.2% | 48.3% | 32.3% |
| Marriage plans | |||
| Engaged to current partner | 28.7% | 21.7% | 35.5% |
| Hope to marry current partner, no firm plans | 36.9% | 31.7% | 41.9% |
| Do not plan to marry current partner/unsure | 23.8% | 28.3% | 19.4% |
| Plan to stay with current partner, but never want to marry | 10.7% | 13.3% | 8.1% |
| Length of time dating partner (in months) | 36.3 | 37.3 | 35.3 |