Relationship challenge: Material obsession is bad for marriages, families and children
Rise of materialism cheapens value of relationships, experts say, creating long-term problems for individuals and society
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Foundational institutions such as marriage, once highly prized in America, have grown cheap, at least in some circles — and they appear to be getting cheaper as some individuals as well as society apparently place more value on material possessions.
Experts say that society is suffering as a result.
"Highly materialistic people have lower marital satisfaction, and those people who value money and material possessions place less value on their relationships," Dr. Ashley LeBaron-Black, assistant professor at Brigham Young University's School of Family Life, told Fox News Digital.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FRIENDS TOO HARD TO FIND THESE DAYS? THESE SURPRISING INSIGHTS MAY HELP
LaBaron-Black, based in Provo, Utah, authored a recent study entitled, "Money Over Marriage," with colleagues Jason Carroll and Heather Kelley.
It dove deep into the data behind the problem.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Television personality Kathie Lee Gifford (left) revealed she was heartbroken over the divorce rumors surrounding NFL star Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen (right) — and argued that "God loves marriage." (Getty Images)
"Materialism is not an isolated life priority; as the pursuit of money and worldly possessions are prioritized, other dimensions of life are necessarily deemphasized," the authors wrote.
High-profile examples of the low value of relationships seem to surround us.
Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine ignited social media scandal amid recent accusations of cheating on his pregnant wife, Behati Prinsloo, with model and social media influencer Sumner Stroh.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Meanwhile, power couple Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen, who appear to have it all — beauty, money, fame, success — may be heading for divorce, according to many headlines.
And the revolving-door social life of Kim Kardashian and other celebrities highlight cheap, disposable relationships.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo were seen out in Montecito after multiple women claimed that Levine had sent inappropriate, flirtatious messages to them. (Garrett Press / MEGA for Fox News Digital)
A new unscientific survey by online retailer Yellow Octopus underscored the declining value of our love. It found that 39% of respondents would forgive an unfaithful companion in exchange for "lavish" gifts.
But "lavish" is a relative term.
"It's worrisome that … priceless elements of a relationship like trust and loyalty can be bought."
The report said that 32% of not-so-heartbroken people would let bygones be bygones in exchange for a new cell phone; 21% could have their loyalty assuaged by event tickets; and 18% could look past the transgression with a gift of video games.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}KIM KARDASHIAN SHARES ‘INTIMATE’ DETAILS OF SEX LIFE WITH PETE DAVIDSON TO HER GRANDMOTHER
"That’s pretty shocking and worrisome," said BYU's LeBaron-Black, commenting on the unscientific study done by yellowoctupus.com.au.
"It's worrisome that those priceless elements of a relationship like trust and loyalty can be bought," she also said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Gisele Bundchen wants a grand gesture "of support" from husband Tom Brady after the couple both reportedly hired divorce attorneys recently. (Dimitrios Kambouris)
She added, "Kids tend to really flourish when they're in stable home environments. Adults also tend to do better when they're in a happy, committed, stable relationship."
Even so, marriage itself, once seen as the most fundamental building block of society, appears to be losing value, at least by examining pop culture.
"Kids tend to really flourish when they're in stable home environments. Adults also tend to do better when they're in a happy, committed, stable relationship."
Many of the Hollywood elite have long made a mockery of marriage.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Martin Scorsese has been married five times; the late Elizabeth Taylor walked the aisle eight times; and apparent record holder Zsa Zsa Gabor heard wedding bells ring nine times.
BYU professor and family studies expert Ashely Lebaron-Black said today's increasing focus on materialism is bad for children, families and society. (Photography by Kate Kelson/BYU)
"A girl must marry for love," the late Hungarian-American actress Gabor once famously said, "and keep on marrying until she finds it."
Consumers appear to be following Hollywood's lead — and that's bad for society, said LeBaron-Black.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"The further we stray from those stable individual relationships, [the more this] ends up influencing societal outcomes and societal norms," she told Fox News Digital.
High-profile examples of the low value of relationships seem to surround us. Even so, both children and adults do better when they're in stable, loving environments, experts say. (iStock)
"The trajectory of the individuals in aggregate become the trajectory of society itself."
The data shows that divorce rates have stabilized in recent years.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"This me-first mentality has replaced more traditional family and communal values."
But the age at which people marry has steadily increased. It's now 30 years old for a man, 28 years for a woman.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
Marriage rates are at an all-time low, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Birth rates are plummeting.
They're down 4% from 2020 to 2021, according to a report from the Institute for Family Studies; it's the sharpest year-to-year decline in nearly half a century.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"This me-first mentality has replaced more traditional family and communal values," the report stated.
"There is a dwindling interest in marriage and parenthood, especially among young adults, even those who are financially secure," the same report found.