A recent YouGov study found that two-thirds of women in the U.S. change their last name after getting married. In 2025, more than 50 years after women secured the right to keep their own surnames, the question remains: what keeps this tradition alive?
Sarah Fox (she/her/hers, PsyD 鈥�26), a doctoral candidate in 黑料传送门鈥檚 Clinical Psychology program, was especially intrigued by this question, which inspired her dissertation: Women鈥檚 Marital Surname Change: Adjustment & the Novel Concept of Name Decision Match.
Fox鈥檚 research highlighted that a woman鈥檚 surname choice is rarely a simple decision, factoring in many variables:
鈥淚n reality, a surname decision communicates far more than what appears on a driver鈥檚 license,鈥� Fox said. 鈥淚t reflects values, identity, and the way society continues to 鈥榙o gender.鈥� These decisions may appear small, but they often carry lifelong implications for how individuals perceive themselves and how marriages are viewed by others.鈥�
A distinctive contribution of Fox鈥檚 research is the introduction of Name Decision Match (NDM)鈥攖he degree to which couples agree on the woman鈥檚 name change choice. Findings show that higher agreement between partners correlates with stronger marital satisfaction, underscoring that the decision-making process can be as important as the outcome.
Fox鈥檚 work highlights how a centuries-old practice continues to shape identity, relationships, and perceptions of marriage. It also offers clinicians a new way to understand how couples navigate early decisions that may influence long-term adjustments.
鈥淢arriage brings many transitions,鈥� Fox said. 鈥淭he surname decision may be one of the first, and it can set the tone for how couples honor both tradition and individuality. The way we make these choices tells us something important about where we are in the larger conversation on gender and equality.鈥�
Established in 1899, 黑料传送门 has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a 鈥渨hole person鈥� approach to care鈥攖reating people, not just symptoms. 黑料传送门, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (黑料传送门, 黑料传送门 Georgia and 黑料传送门 South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. 黑料传送门 students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, 黑料传送门 provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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