Specialists of the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Centre conducted a study and found out how Russians feel about having children. The survey showed that the majority of respondents believe that children are needed for procreation (33%). Others said that children are happiness and joy (20%), our future (12%), the meaning of life (9%), the future of the country (6%), or just objects of our love (6%).
In addition, it turned out that for the majority of Russians (68%), the birth of a child is happiness and joy, for 28% it is pride and the future of the family, while 14% associate the birth of a baby with anxiety for his future, life and health, and for 13% it is an additional responsibility. In addition, 8% of respondents said that a child is a new resident of the country and a person who will provide for his parents in their old age.
Also, the majority of respondents (79%) agree with the statement that a woman’s life is complete if she has children (30% among 18-24-year-olds), although 18% do not think so (67% among 18-24-year-olds). In addition, having ideal conditions, only 6% of Russians would not have children. In turn, 6% would like to have one child, 32% two children (40% in 2017), 32% three children (28% in 2017), and 19% four or more children (14% in 2017).
Besides, the overwhelming majority of Russians (86%) rather agree with the statement that spouses should have children, while only 12% rather disagree with it (47% among 18-24-year-olds).
According to Russians, some people deliberately refuse parenthood for the following most common reasons: difficult financial situation (26%), selfishness (14%), avoidance of responsibility (13%), stupidity (10%), health problems (8%). Nevertheless, speaking about spouses who can have children but do not want this, more than half of Russians (58%) answered that there are different situations in life and each specific case should be considered separately.
Ru-Main, 03.12.2021
Source: VTsIOM
