The Institute for Family Studies (IFS) recently published a report in which authors Lyman Stone, Peter Foreshaw Brookes, and Jason S. Carroll found that ties to faith, family and good community were directly related to higher birth rates.
In the report, the authors analyzed data collected from 10,000 survey respondents across over a dozen countries. The survey included questions about desired family sizes, level of family influence, religious beliefs and more.
We have long known that fertility rates have continued to plummet in America. Pew Research reports women in America will, on average, have between 1.58 and 1.60 children, which is well-below the the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman.
This is not just an American problem. Other countries face the same dangerously low levels of birth rates – all of which are below replacement level.
- Japan’s current birth rate sits at 1.14 children per woman.
- Russia’s birth rate sits at 1.35-1.42 children per woman.
- England’s birth rate sits at 1.39 children per woman.
On a positive note, the IFS report notes a fascinating trend regarding how likely a couple will have more children. While Ultra-Orthodox Jews in the NYC metro area average 7.5 children per woman, college-educated, native-born, non-Hispanic white women averaged 1.58 children. This means economics and location may not have as much say in the fertility rate as some would have you believe.
We have heard for years from social media and the media in general that “it’s too expensive to have children” and “the affordability crisis is causing people to stop having kids.” While economics may, and probably does, play some role in whether or not a couple decides to start a family, it has a much smaller role than the media would have you believe.
“The differences in birth rates between various groups of people are not simply a function of differences in child care affordability or household incomes and parental opportunity costs; they are at least partly a function of differences in cultural norms and values…” (IFS Report)
The authors analyzed data from a plethora of different cultures and found a similar trend. Jewish, Amish, Mormon, and other religious cultures tended to have more children – well above replacement rate. More than this, the authors discovered six key factors influencing whether or not a couple would have more children.
- Having a supportive family and community encourages fertility.
The authors found a regular trend emerging in their research. The level of support a couple felt from their families and communities of friends played a direct role in determining whether or not the couple felt able to have more children.
“Believing one’s friends would celebrate a new baby is associated with a 10% increase in desired number of children and a 20% increase in the likelihood of intending to have another child…”.
- The visibility of celebrity families encourages fertility.
This one may shock you as it did me. However, the data doesn’t lie. The more people see celebrities having children and celebrating life is associated with a 14% increase in fertility. Think of all the positive examples we have seen in just the past couple of years– Barbara Palvin, Millie Bobby Brown, and Hailee Steinfeld. All of these celebrity pregnancy announcements and parenting journeys have been met with cultural excitement and positive views towards the gift of children.
- A positive view of children encourages fertility.
In their research, the authors found that couples who had the belief that children are a blessing to be celebrated were more likely to have more children. This one should come as no surprise to us Christians. A positive view of children will absolutely bring a more welcoming attitude toward having more children into the hearts and minds of couples.
- Unequal domestic labor sharing does not affect fertility.
The media (probably feminists) like to argue that the unequal sharing of domestic labor (the wife cooking, cleaning, etc.) discourages women from wanting to also carry the responsibility of pregnancy and motherhood. However, the data says the opposite.
“Contrary to theories that low fertility may be due to unequal sharing of domestic labor, neither actual division of household chores nor perceptions around their fairness significantly predict any meaningful differences in fertility ideals or intentions.”
- Having an active faith encourages fertility.
The IFS research authors discovered that couples who were active in their faith and were regular attenders of their churches were more likely to not only desire to have more children, but to actually have more children.
- Having an optimistic view of the future encourages fertility.
The authors found that couples who were more optimistic about the future and less anxious were more likely to have more children. On the other hand, attitudes of pessimism and anxiety about the future were seen to be directly related to the falling fertility rate that we are experiencing.
While we have a long way to go as a culture in raising our birth rate, this report should make us all feel positive and optimistic. Why?
This report proves that we ourselves can be the vehicle for changing the pessimistic view of children and motherhood that has plagued our society for decades.
We can choose to be optimistic and to trust the Lord with our children and families.
We can be blessings to families that are around us – cooking a meal for a newly postpartum mom, being active in the children’s ministry in our churches, celebrating pregnancy announcements, and encouraging young families because of the joy that their children bring.
We have a long way to go, but we have every reason to be hopeful about our future.
