The Young Single Adult Male Experience of Being

Researchers in this study set out to explore the young single adult male experience of being "older" in the LDS church where marriage by the age of 25 is emphasized. Guided by the Life Course Perspective, a qualitative study was designed that surveyed 43 single men in the greater Washington DC area between the ages of 25-31. The survey was administered electronically and consisted of 20 demographic and open-ended questions. Questions were geared towards understanding how LDS men make sense of their experience of being older and single in the Church as well as the influence their social groups have on their experience. Thematic analysis of participant responses revealed two major themes: "It just hasn't worked out yet," and "I'm failing." Further findings suggest themes of not fitting in, the clock is ticking, the women's role, and wanting to get married for the right reasons. Additional sub-themes are addressed as well as their clinical implications and suggestions for further research.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Human Development

Department dc:contributor.department

Human Development

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Johnson, Jordan R.

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• McCollum, Eric E.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Huebner, Angela J.
• Wittenborn, Andrea K.

• single men
• LDS
• young adult
• qualitative
• life course perspective

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:1528

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/51360