New research has revealed the gap between young and old people in Britain when it comes to views on marriage.

The poll of over 2,000 British adults found that a quarter of young people back the idea of temporary marriage contracts, while one in three support polygamy. 

Out of all those surveyed, 17 per cent said they supported polygamy, 15 per cent favoured temporary marriage contracts, 15 per cent 'fluid' relationships and six per cent incest.

But these figures jumped among 18-24 year olds, with nearly a third supporting polygamy (32 per cent) and fluid arrangements (30 per cent), just under a quarter (24 per cent) backing temporary marriage contracts and 13 per cent supporting a change to the legal definition of marriage to include incestuous unions. 

The survey also found a mix of attitudes towards same-sex relationships and cohabiting. 

Asked whether they would be pleased or not if their child married someone of the same sex, half said it would 'make no difference' to them.  This compared to only one in six (17 per cent) who would be pleased and nearly a quarter (24 per cent) would not be pleased.

Similarly, 65 per cent said it would make no difference to them if their child lived with a partner but never married.

But the idea of a traditional marriage remains popular, with over half of the respondents (55 per cent) saying they would be pleased if their child married someone of the opposite six. 

Responses were more conservative when it came to changing gender, with 42 per cent of the total number of respondents saying they would not be pleased if their child wanted to officially change gender, compared to only 5 per cent who said they would be pleased.  Forty per cent said it would make no difference to them. 

However, 18- to 24-year-olds were far less likely to say they would not be pleased if their child wanted to change gender - 28 per cent compared to 40 per cent of 25- to 34-year-olds, 43 per cent of 35- to 44-year-olds, and 46 per cent of 45- to 54-year-olds. 

When it came to divorce, nearly half (49 per cent) supported changing the law to allow no-fault divorces - something the Government is currently considering - compared to only 26 per cent who oppose any changes.  

Over two thirds (69 per cent) agreed with the idea of a 'statutory cooling off period before a divorce is finalised' and nearly two thirds agreed with the statement: 'If a couple's marriage is in difficulties, it is usually better for their children for that couple to divorce than for their children to witness them disagreeing.'

Nearly half of the respondents (47 per cent) agreed that the life chances of children with divorced parents are no better or worse than children from parents who are together.

Respondents were evenly split when asked if they agreed that divorce should not be made too easy in order to encourage couples to stay together, with 42 per cent agreeing compared to 41 per cent who disagreed.

The poll was conducted in September on behalf of the Coalition for Marriage.  Chairman Colin Hart said the findings were a 'wake up call' to Government ministers. 

'This is a deeply worrying poll that demonstrates a shift in attitude away from supporting traditional marriage and the concept of a life long commitment towards your wife or husband,' he said. 

'It shows that despite all the rhetoric from the Government about the importance of marriage, they are failing to get this message through.

'Indeed this poll shows that a quarter of youngsters believe getting married should be similar to buying a mobile phone – a time-limited agreement that at the end both parties can chose whether to downgrade, upgrade or continue on a regularly renewable basis.'