Subjectivity on Childbearing in High School Students

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Demography
• Adolescent Psychology

Background:

• Declining birth rates and an aging population present significant societal challenges.
• Understanding youth perspectives on childbearing is essential for developing effective population policies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and categorize the subjective viewpoints of high school students regarding childbearing.
• To identify distinct patterns in adolescent attitudes towards having children.

Main Methods:

• Employed Q-methodology to analyze student subjectivity on childbearing.
• Forty-three high school students participated, sorting 40 Q-statements on a 9-point scale.
• Data were analyzed using the pc-QUANL program.

Main Results:

• Two primary types of subjectivity emerged: 'FOLS' (family-oriented life style) and 'CINK' (couple important no kid).
• These types represent differing priorities and values concerning family and childbearing.

Conclusions:

• Youth attitudes, influenced by demographic, economic, and personal factors, contribute to lower birth rates.
• Targeted interventions, including family-centered education and pro-birth policies, are necessary to foster positive childbearing attitudes.
• National and social efforts are required to shift negative perceptions towards childbearing among adolescents.