fourth quarter 2017 social weather survey: 53% of … quarter 2017 social weather survey sws special...

4th Quarter 2017 Social Weather Survey

SWS SPECIAL REPORT

9 March 2018, page 1 of 15

52 Malingap St., Sikatuna Village, Quezon City

Website: www.sws.org.ph

Tel: 924-4456, 924-4465

Fax: 920-2181

Mar 9 - SWR2017-IV Module on Divorce (special report_FINAL).doc

Fourth Quarter 2017 Social Weather Survey:

53% of Filipino adults agree to legalize divorce

for irreconcilably separated couples

• Only 32% disagree to legalize divorce; net agreement (% agree

minus % disagree) is a "Moderately Strong" +21

• "Very Strong" among women with live-in partners, men with

live-in partners, and widowed/separated men

• "Very Strong" in Metro Manila

• "Neutral" among class ABC

• "Neutral" among Iglesia Ni Cristos

Social Weather Stations

An average 53% of adult Filipinos nationwide support the legalization of divorce for

irreconcilably separated couples, based on the Social Weather Surveys of March 25-28, 2017 and

December 8-16, 2017.

To the test statement, “Married couples who have already separated and cannot

reconcile anymore should be allowed to divorce so that they can get legally married again,"

53% agreed (30% strongly and 23% somewhat), and almost a third (32%) disagreed (10%

somewhat and 22% strongly). Fifteen percent were undecided on the matter [Chart 1].

This gives a net agreement score (% agree minus % disagree) of +21, classified by SWS

as moderately strong.

Support for the legalization of divorce used to be split when SWS first surveyed it in

2005: 43% agreed, 12% were undecided, and 45% disagreed, for a neutral net agreement of -2.

The question was asked for the second time six years after in 2011 and obtained

moderately strong support. When it was asked for the third time three years after in 2014, it went

to very strong and stayed at moderately strong up to 2017.

(The SWS terminology for net agreement: +50 and above, "extremely strong"; +30 to

+49, "very strong"; +10 to +29, "moderately strong", +9 to -9, "neutral"; -10 to -29,

"moderately weak"; -30 to -49, "very weak"; -50 and below, "very weak"; -50 and below,

http://www.sws.org.ph/


SWS SPECIAL REPORT



“extremely weak”. SWS considers the movement from one classification to another as either an

"upgrade" or "downgrade".)

"Very Strong" among women with live-in partners, men with live-in partners, and

widowed/separated men

In the Social Weather Surveys, 50% of the respondents are men, and 50% are women. As

of 2017, an average 33% of the men are married, 7% have live-in partners, 7% have never

married, and 3% are singles who are widowed/separated. Among women, 29% are married, 9%

are singles who are widowed/separated, 8% have live-in partners, and 4% have never married

[Chart 2].

Net agreement with legalizing divorce was very strong among women with live-in

partners (+44), men with live-in partners (+37), and widowed/separated men (+33) [Chart 3].

It was moderately strong among widowed/separated women (+24), women who have

never married (+24), men who have never married (+21), married men (+19), and married

women (+12).

When it was first asked in 2005, support for divorce was already very strong among

women with live-in partner at +48, and moderately strong men with live-in partner at +23, and

among widowed/separated men at +19. On the other hand, it was neutral among men and women

who have never married both at +9, widowed/separated women at net zero, and married men at

-3, while was moderately weak among married women at -10.

Among men who have never married, net agreement was a moderately strong +21 (54%

agree, 32% disagree, correctly rounded) in 2017. It was neutral in 2005, then rose to moderately

strong to very strong levels since 2011 [Chart 4].

Among women who have never married, it was a moderately strong +24 (55% agree,

31% disagree) in 2017. It was neutral in 2005 before it rose to very strong in 2011, then stayed at

moderately strong levels from 2014 to 2017.

Among men who are widowed/separated, it was a very strong +33 (60% agree, 27%

disagree) in 2017. It was moderately strong in 2005 before it rose to very strong to extremely

strong levels from 2011 to 2017 [Chart 5].


SWS SPECIAL REPORT



Among women who are widowed/separated, it was a moderately strong +24 (56% agree,

33% disagree, correctly rounded) in 2017. It was at neutral levels in 2005 and 2011 before it rose

to moderately strong to very strong levels from 2014 to 2017.

Among married men, it was a moderately strong +19 (50% agree, 32% disagree,

correctly rounded) in 2017. It was neutral in 2005 before it rose to moderately strong to very

strong levels from 2011 to 2017 [Chart 6].

Among women who are married, it was a moderately strong +12 (49% agree, 37%

disagree) in 2017. Following a moderately weak support in 2005, it rose to mostly moderately

strong levels from 2011to 2017.

Among men with live-in partner, it was a very strong +37 (60% agree, 23% disagree) in

2017. It was at moderately strong to extremely strong levels since 2005 [Chart 7].

Among women with live-in partner, net agreement was a very strong +44 (64% agree,

20% disagree) in 2017. Except for the neutral score in 2015, it has been at very strong levels

since 2005.

"Very Strong" in Metro Manila

Net agreement with the proposition was highest in Metro Manila at very strong +35,

followed by moderately strong in Balance Luzon at +23, Mindanao at +15, and Visayas at +14

[Chart 8].

When it was first asked in 2005, support for divorce was already moderately strong in

Balance Luzon at +11. It was neutral in NCR at +1 and in Mindanao at -7, and moderately weak

in Visayas at -24.

In Metro Manila, net agreement was a very strong +35 (61% agree, 26% disagree) in

2017. After the neutral in 2005, it stayed at moderately strong to very strong levels since 2011

[Chart 9].

In Balance Luzon, it was moderately strong +23 (55% agree, 31% disagree, correctly

rounded) in 2017. It has been at moderately strong levels since 2005, except in 2014 when it rose

to very strong.

In Visayas, it was a moderately strong +14 (49% agree, 35% disagree) in 2017. It used to

be moderately weak in 2005 before it rose to neutral to moderately strong levels since 2011

[Chart 10].


SWS SPECIAL REPORT



In Mindanao, it was a moderately strong +15 (49% agree, 34% disagree) in 2017. It was

at neutral levels of in 2005 and 2011 before it rose to moderately strong to very strong levels

from 2014 to 2017.

"Neutral" among class ABC

Net agreement with legalizing divorce was at moderately strong levels of +23 among

class D and +14 among class E, and a neutral +5 among class ABC [Chart 11].

In 2005, support for divorce was already moderately strong among class ABC at +25. It

was neutral among class D at -2, and moderately weak among class E at -13.

Among class ABC, net agreement was a neutral +5 (43% agree, 38% disagree) in 2017.

It stayed moderately strong since 2005 except for the very strong in 2016 and neutral in 2017

[Chart 12].

Among class D, it was a moderately strong +23 (54% agree, 31% disagree) in 2017. It

has been at moderately strong to very strong levels since 2011, following the neutral level in

2005.

Among class E, it was a moderately strong +14 (49% agree, 35% disagree) in 2017. After

the moderately weak in 2005, it has been at moderately strong levels since 2011.

"Neutral" among Iglesia Ni Cristos

Net agreement with legalizing divorce was moderately strong among Catholics at +23

and other Christians at +12, while it was neutral among Iglesia ni Cristos at -8 [Chart 13].

In 2005, support for divorce was neutral among Catholics at -1. It was moderately weak

among other Christians at -11, and very weak among Iglesia ni Cristos at -30.

Among Catholics, net agreement was a moderately strong +23 (54% agree, 31%

disagree) in 2017. Following the neutral in 2005, it rose to moderately strong to very strong

levels since 2011 [Chart 14].

Among other Christians, it was a moderately strong +12 (49% agree, 37% disagree) in

2017. It was moderately weak in 2005, before it rose to neutral to moderately strong levels from

2011 to 2017 [Chart 15].

Among members of Iglesia Ni Cristo, it was a neutral -8 (38% agree, 47% disagree,

correctly rounded) in 2017. It used to be very weak in 2005 before it rose to neutral to

moderately strong levels from 2011 to 2017 [Chart 16].


SWS SPECIAL REPORT



The survey was asked also to Muslims but the findings were not applicable since they

currently have divorce in their Shari’ah Law.

Support for divorce stronger among those who want a happier love life

Support for divorce is stronger among those who said their love life could happier, than

those who have a very happy or no love life.

Net agreement was a very strong +32 (60% agree, 29% disagree, correctly rounded)

among those said their love life could be happier, higher than the moderately strong +19 (52%

agree, 33% disagree) among those with very happy love life, and the moderately strong +17

(52% agree, 35% disagree) among those who have no love life [Chart 17].

The December 2017 survey findings about happiness with love life was reported by SWS

on February 13, 2018.

Survey background

The 2017 Social Weather Surveys cited in this report were conducted from March 25-28,

2017 and December 8-16, 2017. Both surveys used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults (18

years old and above) nationwide: 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and

Mindanao (sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, and ±6% each for Metro

Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao).

The area estimates were weighted by Philippine Statistics Authority medium-population

projections for 2017 to obtain the national estimates.

The SWS survey question on divorce is non-commissioned, and is included on SWS's

own initiative and released as a public service.

The exact phrasing of the question is: Pakisabi po kung kayo ay sumasang-ayon o hindi

sumasang-ayon sa pangungusap na ito: "Ang mga mag-asawang hiwalay na at hindi na

maaaring magkasundo pa ay dapat pahintulutang mag-diborsyo para ang mga ito ay legal na

makapag-asawa uli?" Kayo po ba ay LUBOS NA SUMASANG-AYON, MEDYO SUMASANG-

AYON, HINDI TIYAK KUNG SUMASANG-AYON O HINDI SUMASANG-AYON, MEDYO

HINDI SUMASANG-AYON, o LUBOS NA HINDI SUMASANG-AYON sa pangungusap na ito?

[How much do you agree or disagree with this statement: "Married couples who have already

separated and cannot reconcile anymore should be allowed to divorce so that they can get

legally married again?" Do you STRONGLY AGREE, SOMEWHAT AGREE, UNDECIDED IF


SWS SPECIAL REPORT



AGREE OR DISAGREE, SOMEWHAT DISAGREE, or STRONGLY DISAGREE with this

statement?]

SWS employs its own staff for questionnaire design, sampling, fieldwork, data-

processing, and analysis, and does not outsource any of its survey operations. This report was

prepared by Christine Belle E. Torres, with special tabulations made by Aileen M. Montibon.

#


SWS SPECIAL REPORT



Chart 1

Fourth Quarter 2017 Social Weather ReportDecember 8-16, 2017 National Survey

AGREE-DISAGREE: “Married couples who have already separated and cannot reconcile anymore should be allowed to divorce so that they can get legally married again”, TOTAL PH,

2005 TO 2017

*Net figures = %Strongly/Somewhat Agree MINUS %Somewhat/Strongly Disagree, correctly rounded.

Note: Blank spaces are Refused and Don’t Know responses.

**Average of March 2017 and December 2017 surveys

Q. Pakisabi po kung kayo ay sumasang-ayon o hindi sumasang-ayon sa pangungusap na ito: "Ang mga mag-asawanghiwalay na at hindi na maaaring magkasundo pa ay dapat pahintulutang mag-diborsyo para ang mga ito ay legal namakapag-asawa uli?" Kayo po ba ay LUBOS NA SUMASANG-AYON, MEDYO SUMASANG-AYON, HINDI TIYAK KUNGSUMASANG-AYON O HINDI SUMASANG-AYON, MEDYO HINDI SUMASANG-AYON, o LUBOS NA HINDI SUMASANG-AYONsa pangungusap na ito?

StronglyAgree

Somewhat Agree Undecided

Somewhat Disagree

StronglyDisagree Net*

Agree Disagree

24

27

38

24

29

30

19

23

22

24

26

23

12

16

11

17

14

15

17

13

8

12

10

10

28

19

21

23

20

22

2005

2011

2014

2015

2016

2017**

% of adults

- 2

+18

+31

+25

+21

+14

Chart 2


MARITAL STATUS OF RESPONDENTS, TOTAL PH, 2017*

Never married

Single - widowed/separated

With live-in partners

MEN

Married

8

29

9

4

7

33

3

7

Never married

Single - widowed/separated

With live-in partners

WOMEN

Married

*Average of March 2017 and December 2017 surveys


SWS SPECIAL REPORT



Chart 3


AGREE-DISAGREE: “Married couples who have already separated and cannot reconcile anymore should be allowed to

divorce so that they can get legally married again”, BY SEX AND CIVIL STATUS, 2017

60

60

54

50

64

55

56

49

17

13

14

18

15

14

11

14

23

27

32

32

20

31

33

37

% of adults*Net figures = Agree MINUS Disagree, correctly rounded.

Note: Figures are averages of March 2017 and December 2017 surveys

Blank spaces are Refused and Don’t Know responses.

With live-in partners (7%)

Single - widowed/

separated (3%)

Married (33%)

MEN

Never married (7%)

With live-in partners (8%)

Never married (4%)

Married (29%)

WOMEN

Single - widowed/

separated (9%)

+37

+33

+21

+19

+44

+24

+24

+12

Undecided Net*Agree Disagree

Chart 4


AGREE-DISAGREE: “Married couples who have already separated and cannot reconcile anymore should be allowed to divorce

so that they can get legally married again”, AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER MARRIED, 2005 TO 2017


+ 9+22

+39

+25

+21

+18

45

51

62

48

53

54

45

59

53

53

56

55

16

20

16

21

20

14

15

20

7

19

12

14

36

29

22

30

27

32

37

22

39

28

32

31

2005

2011

2014

2015

2016

2017**

2005

2011

2014

2015

2016

2017**

% of adults

Men who

have never

married

Women

who have

never

married

+ 9

+37

+14

+25

+24

+24

*Net figures = Agree MINUS Disagree, correctly rounded.




SWS SPECIAL REPORT



Chart 5



so that they can get legally married again”, AMONG THOSE WHO ARE WIDOWED/SEPARATED,

2005 TO 2017Undecided Net*Agree Disagree

+19+30

+53

+57

+33

+32

45

60

74

51

77

60

43

42

59

50

61

56

30

11

6

29

4

13

13

19

11

17

11

11

25

29

21

19

20

27

44

39

30

32

27

33

2005

2011

2014

2015

2016

2017**

2005

2011

2014

2015

2016

2017**

% of adults

Men who are

widowed/

separated

Women who

are widowed/

separated

0+ 3

+28

+35

+24

+18




Chart 6



so that they can get legally married again”, AMONG THOSE WHO ARE MARRIED, 2005 TO 2017


- 3

+18

+33

+18

+19

+19

43

50

61

51

53

50

39

47

55

44

48

49

10

18

11

16

13

18

12

15

13

18

17

14

46

31

28

32

34

32

49

38

32

38

35

37

2005

2011

2014

2015

2016

2017**

2005

2011

2014

2015

2016

2017**

% of adults

Men who are

married

Women who

are married

- 10

+10

+22

+13

+12

+ 7





SWS SPECIAL REPORT



Chart 7



so that they can get legally married again”, AMONG THOSE WITH LIVE-IN PARTNER, 2005 TO 2017

+23

+36

+38

+50

+37

+15

54

63

65

48

70

60

71

62

66

45

67

64

15

10

8

16

11

17

7

11

7

11

13

15

31

27

27

34

20

23

22

27

27

44

20

20

2005

2011

2014

2015

2016

2017**

2005

2011

2014

2015

2016

2017**

% of adults

Men with live-

in partner

Women with

live-in

partner

+48

+35

+39

+46

+44

+ 2





Chart 8



divorce so that they can get legally married again”, BY AREA, 2017


+35

+23

+14

+15

61

55

49

49

13

14

16

17

26

31

35

34

NCR (14%)

Bal. Luzon(44%)

Visayas(19%)

Mindanao(23%)

% of adults

*Net figures = Agree MINUS Disagree, correctly rounded. Figures in parentheses are national proportions.



SWS SPECIAL REPORT



Chart 9



divorce so that they can get legally married again”, NCR AND BALANCE LUZON, 2005 TO 2017


+ 1+17

+46

+33

+35

+20

44

52

67

54

63

61

51

54

62

49

56

55

10

13

12

11

7

13

9

16

9

18

12

14

45

35

21

34

30

26

40

29

30

33

32

31

2005

2011

2014

2015

2016

2017**

2005

2011

2014

2015

2016

2017**

% of adults

NCR

Bal.

Luzon

+11+24

+32

+24

+23

+16




Chart 10



divorce so that they can get legally married again”, VISAYAS AND MINDANAO, 2005 TO 2017


- 24

+13

+20

+ 8

+14

0

32

50

55

41

47

49

36

44

55

49

56

49

10

14

10

18

15

16

21

21

16

19

23

17

56

37

35

41

38

35

43

35

28

31

21

34

2005

2011

2014

2015

2016

2017**

2005

2011

2014

2015

2016

2017**

% of adults

Visayas

Mindanao

- 7

+ 9

+27

+36

+15

+18





SWS SPECIAL REPORT



Chart 11



divorce so that they can get legally married again”, BY CLASS, 2017


+ 5

+23

+14

43

54

49

19

15

16

38

31

35

ABC (3%)

D (82%)

E (15%)

% of adults



Chart 12


AGREE-DISAGREE: “Married couples who have already separated and cannot reconcile anymore should be allowed to divorce so

that they can get legally married again”, BY CLASS, 2005 TO 2017


Classes

ABC

+25

+16

+21

+39

+ 5

+25

5957

5748

6243

4252

60

485554

37

4558

4854

49

63

629

1519

1316

11

151415

13

1911

2214

16

3440

3623

2338

4432

28

363131

50

3430

3031

35

2005

2011

2014

2015

2016

2017**

2005

2011

2014

2015

2016

2017**

2005

2011

2014

2015

2016

2017**

% of adults

- 2

+20

+32

+23

+23

+12

- 13

+11

+28

+23

+14

+18

Class D

Class E





SWS SPECIAL REPORT



Chart 13



divorce so that they can get legally married again”, BY RELIGION, 2017


+23

+12

- 8

54

49

38

15

14

15

31

37

47

RomanCatholics

(81%)

OtherChristian

(12%)

Iglesia NiCristo (3%)

% of adults



Chart 14



divorce so that they can get legally married again”, AMONG ROMAN CATHOLICS, 2005 TO 2017


- 1

+17

+33

+28

+23

+12

43

50

61

47

57

54

11

17

10

18

14

15

45

33

29

35

29

31

2005

2011

2014

2015

2016

2017**

% of adults





SWS SPECIAL REPORT



Chart 15



divorce so that they can get legally married again”, AMONG OTHER CHRISTIANS, 2005 TO 2017


- 11

+14

+15

+ 4

+12

+ 9

36

49

51

47

47

49

17

17

14

15

10

14

47

34

35

38

43

37

2005

2011

2014

2015

2016

2017**

% of adults




Chart 16



divorce so that they can get legally married again”, AMONG IGLESIA NI CRISTO, 2005 TO 2017


- 30

+12

+11

+ 1

- 8

- 2

26

53

49

39

45

38

18

6

13

20

11

15

56

41

38

41

44

47

2005

2011

2014

2015

2016

2017**

% of adults




SWS SPECIAL REPORT



Chart 17



divorce so that they can get legally married again”, BY ASSESSMENT OF ONE’S LOVE LIFE, DEC 2017


+23

+19

+32

+17

55

52

60

52

14

15

11

14

32

33

29

35

Total PH

Veryhappy(57%)

Could behappier(29%)

No lovelife (14%)

% of adults


fourth quarter 2017 social weather survey: 53% of … quarter 2017 social weather survey sws special...

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