The future of the family

Since 1974, there have been a number of questions asking whether people are optimistic, pessimistic, or uncertain about the future of "the institution of marriage and the family."  The results

      Optimistic  Pessimistic  Uncertain

8/74  57%          19%          19%

8/75  57           20           20

2/77  48           27           22

8/77  52           25           20

2/79  55           22           20

2/81  56           23           19

2/83  58           20           20

3/96  54           27           17

Unfortunately it hasn't been asked since then.  There was a question in October 2010 that was the same except that it didn't offer the "uncertain" option--that produced 67% optimistic and 27% pessimistic.  I would guess that if forced to choose, at least half of the people who chose "uncertain" would have gone for "pessimistic."  However, I have no evidence to support that--it's just my feeling.   If my feeling is correct, the 2010 responses show a move towards optimism.  But on the whole, what strikes me is the stability of opinions during a time when there have been a lot of changes in the family.