Study finds more college students view partnership, parenthood trivial

More than half of Chinese college students consider marriage unimportant, and nearly 60 percent feel the same about having children, according to a recent study.

Researchers are urging schools to offer courses on love and relationships and for policy support to ease the financial burden on young adults.

The findings were released by the Institute of Psychology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences as part of the fourth edition of its national mental health development report for 2023 to 2024. The study surveyed nearly 56,000 college students and about 7,300 adults.

According to the results, 51.8 percent of college students said marriage was not important to them, while 59.4 percent held the same view about having children.

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Female students were significantly more likely than their male peers to hold such views.

The number of young women who said love was unimportant was 26 percentage points higher than their male counterparts; the number of women who dismissed marriage was about 38 percentage points higher; and the number of women who were unconcerned with parenthood was nearly 35 percentage points higher.

Among young adults age 18 to 24, about 44 percent said having children was unimportant. That figure dropped to less than 27 percent for those age 25 to 34 and to 12 percent for those age 35 to 44.

China's population has declined for three consecutive years, driven largely by persistent low birthrates and a growing reluctance among younger generations to marry and have children.

The study cites economic uncertainty, fear of career setbacks due to parenting responsibilities and concerns about family backgrounds as key reasons behind young people's reluctance.

"Adults with lower incomes typically show less interest in marriage and childbearing, largely due to financial constraints," the study said. "Additionally, college students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to forgo or delay having children as they grapple with the dual pressures of securing stable employment and achieving financial security."

Women in particular expressed concern over the impact bearing children could have on their career development.

The study also noted that children of unhappily married parents are more likely to avoid marriage and parenthood. In families with highly educated parents, children are more inclined to delay or forgo childbearing, likely influenced by their parents' emphasis on personal achievement and self-development.

To address these trends, the researchers called for courses on love and marriage in schools to promote healthy views on romantic relationships based on equality and respect. They also recommended using media platforms to promote diverse and inclusive perspectives on marriage.

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"To help address the dilemma of working mothers, it is also necessary to implement paternity leave, encourage family members to share parenting responsibilities and support employers in offering flexible schedules and remote work options to eliminate gender barriers in promotions and help balance work and family life," the study said.

To ease economic pressures, the study urged policies such as subsidies for housing, child-rearing and education; the development of affordable child care services; and the integration of marriage counseling and child development resources.

Jiang Quanbao, a professor at Xi'an Jiaotong University's Institute for Population and Development Studies, said support policies must address varying needs.

"Some families might prioritize financial subsidies, while more affluent families may need quality educational resources or longer parental leave," Jiang said. "For newlyweds, the most urgent concern may be high rental or housing costs, and so targeted policies should be introduced accordingly."

Contact the writer at wangxiaoyu@chinadaily.com.cn