Traditional Values in Sex and Relationships Making a Comeback

The findings of a recent survey have uncovered a resurgence in the popularity of traditional values in sex and relationships. The findings contrast with the widespread assumption that people today put career before having a family.

The poll for BBC Radio 4's Women's Hour, carried out on 4 to 5 September by ICM Research, found that many respondents believed it best to have just one sexual partner.

The majority of those questioned also said that the ideal age to settle down was between the ages of 21 and 27 and that it was best to have children before the age of thirty.

Thirty three per cent of the 1,000 respondents also stated that the ideal age to settle down is between the ages of 21 and 24. A further 40 per cent said it was best to settle down between the ages of 25 and 27.

The results of the survey, commissioned to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the programme, are being looked at throughout the week.

The vast majority of respondents to the poll - a massive 90 per cent - said that the ideal time to have children was before 30.

A spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland said: "Traditional values are really only commonsense values. This is great news. For too long we have trivialised the process of bringing children into the world."

Although the poll revealed the ideal situation for many of the respondents, the reality lags a little. In Scotland, the average age of mothers has seen a rise from 26.1 in 1977 to 29.4 in 2004.

One positive development revealed by the poll was the rise in the number of men doing household chores, as 45 per cent of women and 57 per cent of men said they and their partner shared the housework. Despite this, however, 52 per cent of women said they still had to do more of the household tasks.