Voluntary Childlessness: Study Shows Strong Opposition Despite a Rise in Trend

Voluntary childlessness, or the choice of opting not to have children, is a growing practice these days. Gone are the days when people’s only destiny in life is parenthood; nowadays, people are increasingly prioritizing their personal needs, aspirations, and goals.

However, this may not always be the case; others desire to have children and reap the benefits of parenthood. Real Research conducted a survey to gauge opinions and preferences on the topic.

To begin with, 71% of respondents were aware of the concept of voluntary childlessness, while 29% were not. 

Factors Affecting a Person’s Desire Not to Have Children

There are several reasons why people choose not to have children. One is financial considerations, say 18% of respondents. Followed by intentions to rebel against societal norms and expectations (11%), witnessing others such as friends and family struggle with parenthood (9%), concerns about overpopulation (9%), unwillingness to readjust lifestyle choices (8%), and a desire for independence (8%), among others. 

The survey highlights that financial concerns are the primary reasons behind opting out of having children. This is likely because children require responsibility and stability. Failure to have either is likely to strain both the children and the parents. The findings also reveal that many feel the urge to rebel against societal norms and expectations. This is because society tends to put pressure on individuals to have children and validate them for the same.

Would Respondents Choose to be Childless?

When asked whether respondents would choose to be childless, 31% reported that they would ‘definitely not,’ while 30% may consider it. 23% say they would ‘definitely’ choose voluntary childlessness. 

This indicates that a majority of respondents would consider having children at some point, as opposed to those who may consider it. 

This is likely due to downsides that make individuals consider having children, such as possible regrets later in life, as suggested by 18%. In addition, there tends to be a lack of companionship or caregiving support in old age (16%), and the unlikeliness of passing down family traditions to future generations (16%), etc. Others say that voluntary childlessness leads to feelings of social isolation among peers (13%). 

Only a small percentage would unquestionably opt for voluntary childlessness, likely due to some of the benefits it offers.

Benefits of Voluntary Childlessness

One significant benefit of voluntary childlessness is the ability to enjoy more flexible lifestyles, say 25.15%. Followed by a sense of freedom to pursue hobbies (14%), increased financial independence (14%), time to focus on personal growth (12%), and no additional responsibilities (11%). 

Consequently, respondents were finally asked whether this trend would continue to rise in the foreseeable future. 76% believe that it would, primarily because times are changing. Society is slowly becoming more accepting of individuals’ choices. Whether or not to have children is left to the decision of the individuals involved. 

This is proven when respondents, 48%, agree to the fact that social acceptance heavily influences people’s choices to have children. 20% of them, however, dismissed this to say that social acceptance does not necessarily influence people’s decisions to not have children. 

In conclusion, the survey conducted by Real Research sheds light on the growing trend of voluntary childlessness and the factors that influence individuals’ decisions. While financial concerns are the primary reason behind opting out of having children, societal norms and expectations also play a significant role. Ultimately, the decision to have children or not is left to the discretion of the respective individuals involved upon considering important factors such as finance, physical and mental health, personal goals, and many more. It is important to ensure taking any and such relevant factors when making these decisions.