THE latest trend shows that more and more adults in the United States (US), especially those under 50, are choosing not to have children.
Reported from Parents The latest research from the Pew Research Center revealed that 57% of adults in the United States under the age of 50 said they did not plan to have children, because they did not want them. Those who are over 50 and do not have children, this figure reaches 31%.
The Pew Research Center has been conducting similar research for several years to understand why Americans aren’t having as many children as previous generations. The latest findings come after a decline in the 2023 fertility rate, which is down 3% compared to 2022. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that between 2014 and 2020, the fertility rate declined by 2% each year.
The Pew Research Center says the number of adults under age 50 who say they will not have children has increased by 10%.
“We have seen an increase in the number of adults under 50 who say they are unlikely to have children between 2018 and 2023,” said Rachel Minkin, a researcher involved in the study. “We wanted to dig deeper into the reasons behind their decision not to have children, their experiences and the impact on their relationships,” she added.
Reasons Why People Choose Not To Have Children
There are several main reasons why young adults decide not to have children:
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Focus on Career
About 44% of those who do not have children say they prefer to focus on their careers. In an increasingly competitive world, many people feel that raising children will distract them from their professional pursuits.
Concerns about the World
38% of respondents expressed concerns about the unstable state of the world. They felt that issues such as climate change, political instability, and environmental crises made them reluctant to bring children into a world full of uncertainty.
Costs and Challenges
About 36% felt unable to cope with the costs and challenges of raising children. The high cost of living and the enormous responsibility of raising children were important factors in their decision.
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For older people, the main reason is often not finding the right partner to start a family with. About 33% of childless people in this group listed this as the main reason for their decision.
Social Pressure on Women
Social pressure to have children tends to be greater for women than for men. Women often face comments and criticism if they choose not to have children.
For example, Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance’s recent comments about the country being run by “old women with no children” illustrate how deep these social pressures run. Negative stereotypes like these leave many women feeling pressured to conform to traditional norms.
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Dr. Jocelyn J. Fitzgerald of the University of Pittsburgh explains, “People who choose not to have children are still somewhat of an anomaly, and this makes some people uncomfortable because the ‘norm’ is to have children.”
However, around 2020, more voices from the current generation are proudly saying they are content without children, and this is becoming more accepted.
Childless, But Not Alone
For those who choose not to have children, like many others, the decision often comes with questions about the future. While it is often said that children will care for their parents as they age, Dr Fitzgerald cautions, “Most people will die alone. Having children is no guarantee that you won’t die alone.”
Fitzgerald adds, “There’s no guarantee that your children will live in the same town as you or be your caregivers when you get old or sick. Most studies show that the happiest people in society are childless women because they have less stress, and not only do they typically live surrounded by family and community, but they are also an important building block of their communities—they help expand the capacity of parenting because they have additional resources to do so.”
While many people who choose not to have children may feel anxious about the future, they often have meaningful relationships with the children in their lives. Many enjoy spending time with nieces, nephews, friends’ children, or other family members.
“I really enjoy helping out with my nieces and my friends’ kids. It’s so much fun! I love watching them grow. But when I’m exhausted, I love coming home to a clean, quiet house where I can really think and work on making the world a better place for women through my mission as a urogynecologist,” Fitzgerald said.
The decision to have or not to have children is a personal right that must be respected as part of the individual’s freedom to determine their life path. (Parents/Z-3)
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