But none of the studies show any evidence that these behaviors improve positive marital outcomes in fact, they show they have opposite effects. The same person may say, “I'm living my ‘ single life’ right now” or “I’m just having the ‘ college experience’,” and also say, “by the time I’m 30, I’d like to have a successful, lifelong, faith-oriented marriage.” They may even think that by “sowing their wild oats,” “testing sexual chemistry,” or cohabiting, they're somehow helping the process of marriage and family preparation. Jason Carroll: We have a lot of people engaging in behaviors that aren’t necessarily congruent with their own stated life goals. What can be done to help students stay true to their faith during their college years? This was striking, as such behavior ostensibly cuts against their religious beliefs. Riley Peterson: In my interviews, I found that sexual activity was prevalent, even among many frequent churchgoers. ( This interview has been edited for length and clarity). Carroll is a professor at Brigham Young University, associate director of the Wheatly Institute, and a leading researcher in the field of marital formation and family life.

Jason Carroll to get his take on these patterns and some practical advice for young adults wishing to form healthy relationships. While partnering was taking place in a variety of settings, it was also clear that many students were struggling to find a steady relationship, and some were opting out of romance altogether. In a recent post for Family Studies, I highlighted a variety of patterns around dating and sex at one Christian university.

Sure cuts a lot pro