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.

Бесплатно

Reproductive attitudes of young families: driving forces and implementation conditions (on the basis of in-depth interviews)

Korolenko Aleksandra V., Kalachikova Olga N.

Статья научная

Promoting population reproduction is one of the key tasks from the standpoint of ensuring national security. In the conditions of aging motherhood, the young family becomes the most important object of demographic policy, since it is a prosperous two-parent family with children that is the main resource of quantitative and qualitative parameters of human capital. The article analyzes reproductive attitudes of young families and the drivers of their implementation. We reveal that, on average, young people are focused on creating a family and having few children. The registered failure to fulfill reproductive intentions (the desired number of children is more than their expected number) is due to the financial and economic situation of the family, the uncertainty (possible risks) of the future, and intra-family relations. The formation of young people's reproductive attitudes largely depends on their parents' example, the quality of child-parent relations and the immediate environment. With a high probability, those raised in a family with few children or those who have no siblings at all may not want to have many children or have children at all. As for children from medium and large families, they may have different views on having children. Reproductive attitudes are linked to marital ones. As a rule, the orientation toward a legitimate happy marriage is reinforced by the desire to have children. A variant of child-centered motives is observed in girls and manifested in the desire “to have a big family and many children”, which somewhat shifts the focus of the priority of intra-family relations. The importance of the housing issue and ensuring a decent standard of living for oneself and one's children is determined by the fact that the unresolved nature of these problems influences the intention to have the first child and reduces the chances of having a few and many children even if they are desirable. State support for young families is needed, despite differences in the estimates of its effectiveness. The difference lies in determining the most desirable mechanisms - it is either direct support in the form of allowances, benefits, etc., or the creation of conditions for raising children (affordable quality social infrastructure) and the possibility of decent earnings for parents. Today, a young family needs state support, and, undoubtedly, the needs of young families should be taken into account in the national demographic policy.

Бесплатно

Reproductive health as a factor in quality of population reproduction

Shabunova Alexandra Anatolevna, Kalachikova Olga Nikolaevna

Статья научная

The paper substantiates the significance of health for population reproduction, examines reproductive health trends in the Vologda region in comparison with Russia in whole. It reveals main problems and causes of worsening reproductive health and therefore reproduction of population.

Бесплатно