Marriage Matters Panel Survey of Newlywed Couples, 1998-2004, Louisiana

In 1997, Louisiana enacted a covenant marriage law which gave couples an alternative to a conventional marriage license. By requiring premarital counseling and proof of fault for a subsequent divorce, along with other features, covenant marriages were intended to be more difficult both to enter and to exit. The Marriage Matters panel survey was designed to examine the effects of covenant marriage on rates of marital dissolution, relationship quality, and other outcomes. The data were collected in three waves. Wave 1 was collected approximately 3 to 6 months after marriage. Respondents were asked questions about their recent marriage, the time leading up to their recent marriage, premarital counseling, convenant marriage, previous marriages, biological and adopted children, feelings about children, their views on marriage and divorce in general, their religious views, satisfaction in marriage, household responsibilities, their background, health and happiness, their social and political views, and about the questionnaire itself. Wave 2 was administered approximately 18 months after the first wave. The second wave queried respondents on their marriage today, their views on marriage and divorce in general, their religious views, household responsibilities, satisfaction in marriage, convenant marriage, biological and adopted children, feelings about children, problems in their marriage, advice and counseling, their health and happiness, employment, housing, and income, household composition, and their social and political views. Wave 3 was administered 12 to 24 months after the second wave. Respondents answered questions on their marriage today, views about marriage and divorce in general, their religious views, household responsibilities, satisfaction in marriage, the celebration of holidays, convenant marriage, biological and adopted children, feelings about children, problems in their marriage, advice and counseling, their health and happiness, employment, housing, and income, household composition, and their social and political views. In the divorce questionnaire, the following topics were addressed: how things stand at the moment, feelings about their marriage, arguments during their marriage, social life since the separation or divorce, their health and well-being, moving to a divorce agreement, advice and counseling, the divorce process and convenant marriage, and household income the year before and after the separation. Demographic information collected across all three waves includes: age, gender, religious participation, employment status, education level, number of children birthed or adopted, household composition, and household income. Demographic information collected in Wave 1 only includes: race, religious affiliation, number of previous marriages, and political affiliation. Demographic information collected through the divorce questionnaire includes: gender, marital status, and personal and partner income.

1997年，路易斯安那州颁布了契约婚姻（covenant marriage）法案，为夫妻提供了传统婚姻执照之外的另一种选择。该法案要求婚前咨询、后续离婚时需提供过错证明，以及其他相关条款，旨在让契约婚姻的缔结与解除均更为困难。

"婚姻重要性"（Marriage Matters）小组调查旨在研究契约婚姻对婚姻解体率、关系质量及其他结果的影响。数据分三波收集：第一波于婚后约3至6个月采集，受访者需回答关于近期婚姻状况、婚前筹备阶段、婚前咨询、契约婚姻、过往婚姻、亲生及收养子女、育儿观念、对婚姻与离婚的总体看法、宗教信仰、婚姻满意度、家庭责任、个人背景、健康与幸福感、社会及政治观点，以及问卷本身的相关问题；第二波于第一波后约18个月进行，询问内容包括当前婚姻状况、对婚姻与离婚的总体看法、宗教信仰、家庭责任、婚姻满意度、契约婚姻、亲生及收养子女、育儿观念、婚姻问题、咨询建议、健康与幸福感、就业情况、住房及收入、家庭构成，以及社会及政治观点；第三波于第二波后12至24个月开展，受访者需回答当前婚姻状况、对婚姻与离婚的总体看法、宗教信仰、家庭责任、婚姻满意度、节日庆祝、契约婚姻、亲生及收养子女、育儿观念、婚姻问题、咨询建议、健康与幸福感、就业情况、住房及收入、家庭构成，以及社会及政治观点。

离婚问卷涵盖以下主题：当前状况、对婚姻的感受、婚姻期间的争吵、分居或离婚后的社交生活、健康与福祉、离婚协议进展、咨询建议、离婚流程与契约婚姻，以及分居前后一年的家庭收入。

三波调查均收集的人口统计信息包括：年龄、性别、宗教参与度、就业状态、教育水平、亲生及收养子女数量、家庭构成及家庭收入。仅第一波收集的人口统计信息包括：种族、宗教信仰、过往婚姻次数及政治派别。通过离婚问卷收集的人口统计信息包括：性别、婚姻状态，以及个人与配偶收入。