[Concept of medical students on partnership and marriage and subsequent changes]

An analysis carried out in Dresden in 1991 gives an insight into the ideas that medical students have in respect of marriage/partnership and family. In many respects there are no differences compared with the ideas governing the minds and emotions of young adults. A certain period of time will elapse (the length of this period has already been envisaged) before we can find out eventual differences and to what extent. More than previously students will have to weight the pros and cons of profession and family. (Own) children now occupy the eighth rank of importance in the sequence of values: this may be a first sign of such re-assessment. No special features were seen in respect of the desire to marry and to have children. Female students are more likely to think in traditional terms as far as marriage and partnership are concerned whereas they think along update lines in respect of the demands made on their partner and on the manner in which partnership should be structured, with particular emphasis on equal rights. Male students are more often in favour of partnership or single life but rather traditional in their ideas of partnership.