Reproductive attitudes of modern youth toward multi-child parenting: patterns and contradictions

In the context of depopulation and reduction in the number of young people at the most active reproductive age, it becomes relevant to determine the features of their attitudes related to having children. Currently, quite a large number of studies are being conducted, which cover various aspects of the problem, combining some of the stable relationships identified in reproductive attitudes, which can be considered as patterns. At the same time, the younger generation is characterized by contradictions in their judgments concerning various aspects of life. We can assume that similar contradictions manifest themselves in reproductive choice, as well. The problem regarding the attitudes of modern young people toward multichild parenting needs to be researched more thoroughly; therefore, the purpose of the study is to detect patterns and contradictions in the reproductive attitudes of modern youth toward having many children. To achieve this goal, a sociological survey was conducted in the form of a questionnaire among students in 20 cities of Russia. As a result, we have revealed that the reproductive attitudes of modern youth toward multi-child parenting, on the one hand, represent a number of natural and expected judgments, and on the other hand, reflect contradictory opinions regarding the large family model. The opinions are as follows: for example, reproductive plans can be more optimistic provided that living conditions are improved; there can be regional differentiation according to the planned, desired and ideal number of children; young people can follow their parents’ reproductive behavior patterns; besides, young people can focus on having many children, although they do not perceive a large family as an ideal model; they may not want to have many children while acknowledging that a family with three or more children is the most optimal one; it may also happen that young people want to have many children, but at the same time show an increasingly negative attitude toward other multi-child families. Thus, these contradictions can be considered as a kind of barrier that can restrain the implementation of young people’s reproductive plans; therefore, they should be leveled within the framework of socio-demographic policy.