Attitudes About Childlessness in the United States

The study used cross-sectional analyses of the National Survey of Families and Households (1987-1988, 1992-1994) to examine attitudes about childlessness in the United States. It (a) assesses prevalence of positive, neutral, and negative attitudes about childlessness and (b) identifies the correlate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of family issues 2007-08, Vol.28 (8), p.1054-1082
Main Authors: Koropeckyj-Cox, Tanya, Pendell, Gretchen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic achievement
Attitudes
Childlessness
Educational Attainment
Sex
United States of America
USA
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Summary:The study used cross-sectional analyses of the National Survey of Families and Households (1987-1988, 1992-1994) to examine attitudes about childlessness in the United States. It (a) assesses prevalence of positive, neutral, and negative attitudes about childlessness and (b) identifies the correlates of different attitudes in the population. About one fifth of adults disagreed with prescriptive norms that favor parenthood over childlessness, whereas two fifths gave neutral responses. More than 86% agreed or were neutral on whether childless adults could have fulfilling lives. Positive attitudes were consistently found among those who were female, college educated, or childless. Those with negative attitudes were distinct from those with neutral or positive attitudes and were more likely to be older, male, non-White, less educated, or have conservative religious beliefs, net of other factors. The authors argue attitudes reflect acceptance but not endorsement of childlessness, and substantial proportions of neutral responses merit closer examination. [Reprinted by permission of Sage Publications Inc., copyright 2007.]
ISSN:0192-513X
DOI:10.1177/0192513X07301940