‘Do I want children later in life?’ Reproductive intentions of 1700 adolescents

Abstract

Purpose

In the past decades, a positive attitude towards having children has been reported in young people. The current generation of adolescents is increasingly concerned about environmental cataclysm which may have an impact on their desire for children. The purpose of this study is to depict the current attitudes in Flemish adolescents towards having children.

Materials and methods

All secondary schools in Flanders (Belgium) were invited to distribute an anonymous online survey among their pupils in the last two years of secondary education. In total, 1700 adolescents participated and provided quantitative and qualitative data on their reproductive intentions.

Results

Most pupils expressed a desire for children (60.2%), 24.7% were undecided and 10.8% were not willing to have children. Significantly more boys than girls would like to have children (67.0% versus 61.7%, p < 0.01). Adolescents who were uncertain about having children or not interested, reported financial reasons and loss of freedom as most important reasons.

Conclusions

While most adolescents would like to have children in the future, one in four adolescents is undecided and one in ten indicates a wish to remain childless; reasons for wanting children are rather personal, reasons for not wanting children are rather pragmatic.

SHORT CONDENSATION

A desire for parenthood is no longer the norm: 60% of Flemish adolescents would like to build a family, but many are considering a future without children.

摘要

目的: 在过去的几十年里, 年轻人对生育持积极态度的报道增多。当前一代青少年越来越关注可能对他们对生育意愿产生影响的环境灾难。本研究描述了当前弗拉芒地区青少年对生育的态度。

材料和方法: 邀请弗拉芒地区(比利时)所有中学在过去两年中将一份匿名在线调查表分发给他们的高中生。共有1700名青少年参与并提供了关于他们生育意愿的定量和定性数据。

结果: 大多数学生表达了对生育的愿望(60.2%), 24.7%的人未决定, 10.8%的人不愿意生育。想要孩子的男孩比女孩显著多(67.0%对61.7%, p < 0.01)。对于是否要生孩子或对生孩子不感兴趣的青少年, 金钱原因和失去自由是最重要的原因。

结论: 虽然大多数青少年希望将来有孩子, 但四分之一的青少年未决定, 十分之一表示希望不生育子女；想要孩子的原因更多是个人方面的, 不想要孩子的原因更多是现实方面的。

简短总结: 对亲子关系的渴望不再是常态: 60%的弗拉芒地区青少年希望组建家庭, 但许多人正在考虑未来不要孩子的可能性。

Keywords:

• Parenthood
• intention
• attitude
• adolescent
• childbearing

Disclosure statement

There is no conflict of interest to declare.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in Zenodo at http://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.10417208.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Practice Oriented Scientific Research (PWO) of VIVES University of Applied Sciences.