Delbaere, Ilse;
De Vos, Michel;
Somers, Sara;
Condorelli, Margherita;
Pening, David;
Bogaerts, Annick;
Vandepitte, Hannelore;
... Mertes, Heidi; + view all
(2024)
'Do I want children later in life?' Reproductive intentions of 1700 adolescents.
The European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care
, 29
(3)
pp. 1-8.
10.1080/13625187.2024.2335651.
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Abstract
PURPOSE: In the past decades, a positive attitude towards having children has been reported in young people. The current generation of adolescents is increasingly concerned about environmental cataclysm which may have an impact on their desire for children. The purpose of this study is to depict the current attitudes in Flemish adolescents towards having children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All secondary schools in Flanders (Belgium) were invited to distribute an anonymous online survey among their pupils in the last two years of secondary education. In total, 1700 adolescents participated and provided quantitative and qualitative data on their reproductive intentions. RESULTS: Most pupils expressed a desire for children (60.2%), 24.7% were undecided and 10.8% were not willing to have children. Significantly more boys than girls would like to have children (67.0% versus 61.7%, p < 0.01). Adolescents who were uncertain about having children or not interested, reported financial reasons and loss of freedom as most important reasons. CONCLUSIONS: While most adolescents would like to have children in the future, one in four adolescents is undecided and one in ten indicates a wish to remain childless; reasons for wanting children are rather personal, reasons for not wanting children are rather pragmatic.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | 'Do I want children later in life?' Reproductive intentions of 1700 adolescents |
| Location: | England |
| DOI: | 10.1080/13625187.2024.2335651 |
| Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13625187.2024.2335651 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Adolescent, attitude, childbearing, intention, Parenthood |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL EGA Institute for Womens Health UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL EGA Institute for Womens Health > Reproductive Health |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10195301 |
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