• Citer

‘Do I want children later in life?’ Reproductive intentions of 1700 adolescents

par Delbaere, Ilse;De Vos, Michel;Somers, Sara;Condorelli, Margherita ;Pening, David ;Bogaerts, Annick;Vandepitte, Hannelore;Stoop, Dominic;Harper, Joyce;Mertes, Heidi
Référence European journal of contraception & reproductive health care, page (1-8)
Publication Publié, 2024-04-01

Article révisé par les pairs

• Accès en ligne
• Détails
• Contenu
• Statistiques

Résumé :

ABSTRACTPurpose: In the past decades, a positive attitude towards having children has been reported inyoung people. The current generation of adolescents is increasingly concerned about environmentalcataclysm which may have an impact on their desire for children. The purpose of this study is todepict the current attitudes in Flemish adolescents towards having children.Materials and methods: All secondary schools in Flanders (Belgium) were invited to distribute ananonymous online survey among their pupils in the last two years of secondary education. In total, 1700adolescents 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% werenot 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 fouradolescents is undecided and one in ten indicates a wish to remain childless; reasons for wantingchildren are rather personal, reasons for not wanting children are rather pragmatic.SHORT CONDENSATIONA desire for parenthood is no longer the norm: 60% of Flemish adolescents would like to build afamily, but many are considering a future without children.