Prevalence, Age of Decision, and Interpersonal Warmth Judgements of Childfree Adults: Replication and Extensions

Abstract

Childfree individuals, who are also described as "childless by choice" or "voluntarily childless", have decided they do not want biological or adopted children. This is an important population to understand because its members have unique reproductive health and end-of-life needs, and they encounter challenges managing work-life balance and with stereotypes. Prior estimates of childfree adults' prevalence in the United States, their age of decision, and interpersonal warmth judgements have varied widely over time and by study design. To clarify these characteristics of the contemporary childfree population, we conduct a pre-registered direct replication of a recent population-representative study. All estimates concerning childfree adults replicate, boosting confidence in earlier conclusions that childfree people are numerous and decide early in life, and that parents exhibit strong in-group favoritism.

Stereotypes About Childfree Adults (SAChA)

“…Following J. W. Neal and Neal (2023a), we identify childfree respondents as those who answer “no” to each of the following questions: (1) “Do you have, or have you ever had, any biological, step-, or adopted children,” (2) “Do you plan to have any biological or adopted children in the future,” and (3) “Do you wish you had or could have biological or adopted children.” All other respondents are classified as not childfree.…”

“…Understanding stereotypes about childfree adults is important for two reasons. First, recent estimates find that childfree adults may comprise over a fifth of the adult population (J. W. Neal & Neal, 2023a), suggesting that these stereotypes may affect a substantial number of people. Second, stereotypes may lead childfree adults to experience discrimination in the workplace and other social settings (Turnbull et al, 2016;Verniers, 2020).…”

“…Understanding stereotypes about childfree adults is important for two reasons. First, recent estimates find that childfree adults may comprise over a fifth of the adult population (J. W. Neal & Neal, 2023a), suggesting that these stereotypes may affect a substantial number of people.…”

Predictors of prejudice towards childfree individuals in Poland

“…Most of them make these decisions regarding their procreative intentions in their childhood or adolescence. Approximately two-thirds of them decide this before reaching the age of 30, with up to 30% deciding in their thirties and forties (Avison & Furnham, 2015;Ciesielski & Bakiera, 2023;Neal & Neal, 2022;Watling Neal & Neal, 2023). People do not want to have children for a variety of reasons, among which are: those concentrated on developing their own "self" (e.g., they want to pursue their career; they are not interested in raising a child; they want to be free from limitations connected with raising a child); those concentrated on the wellbeing of the potential child (e.g., they are aware of climate change and overpopulation; they believe that having a child in a dangerous world is immoral; or they think that they would be a bad parent and therefore want to avoid hurting their potential child) (Avison & Furnham, 2015;Ciesielski & Bakiera, 2023).…”

Sample, time, and wording effects on estimating the prevalence of childfree adults: Insights from Japan

“…For example, some studies restrict their universe to only women [ 2 ], only men [ 5 ], or only ever-married or partnered adults [ 4 ]. These restrictions in the gender or martial status of respondents may lead to variations in estimated prevalence because, for example, some studies have found that more men are childfree than women [ 6 , 12 ], or that more singles are childfree than ever-married or partnered individuals [ 6 , 12 ].…”