Jacobson C K, Heaton T B
Department of Sociology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
Soc Biol. 1991 Spring-Summer;38(1-2):79-93. doi: 10.1080/19485565.1991.9988773.
Most studies of childlessness in the United States have relied on unrepresentative, opportunistic samples collected in a variety of ways. Thus, the relationship of various correlates to childlessness is not well known. Some studies have focused on demographic variables, but have not examined attitudinal factors associated with childlessness--something the opportunistic samples have been able to do. In this paper we examine both attitudinal and demographic factors associated with childlessness in the United States. The data used in this paper are from the National Survey of Families and Households collected in 1987 and 1988. The data set includes both demographic data, perceived advantages and disadvantages of having children, and attitudinal data about related social issues. Overall, the rate of voluntary childlessness was not high. Only 3.5 per cent of the men and 2.8 per cent of the women reported that they were childless and did not expect to have children. Only one category of people (unmarried men and women over the age of 35) had rates that exceeded ten per cent. A combined variable of age and marital status was the best predictor of childlessness. A scale of reasons or justifications for having children was the next best predictor. In addition, attendance at religious services, number of hours the respondents desired to work and education (for women only) were related to childlessness. Those who scored highly on measures of support for traditional families and support of extended families also tended to have lower rates of childlessness. Occupational status, religious denomination, and race, on the other hand, were not significantly related to childlessness. Measures of gender equality, religious fundamentalism, and support for mothers working were also not related to childlessness.
美国大多数关于无子女情况的研究都依赖于通过各种方式收集的缺乏代表性的机会样本。因此，各种相关因素与无子女之间的关系并不为人所知。一些研究聚焦于人口统计学变量，但并未考察与无子女相关的态度因素——而机会样本能够做到这一点。在本文中，我们考察了与美国无子女情况相关的态度和人口统计学因素。本文使用的数据来自1987年和1988年收集的全国家庭与住户调查。数据集包括人口统计数据、对生育子女的感知利弊以及关于相关社会问题的态度数据。总体而言，自愿无子女的比例并不高。只有3.5%的男性和2.8%的女性表示他们没有子女且不打算生育。只有一类人（35岁以上的未婚男性和女性）的比例超过了10%。年龄和婚姻状况的综合变量是无子女情况的最佳预测指标。生育子女的理由或正当性量表是次佳预测指标。此外，参加宗教活动的频率、受访者期望的工作时长以及教育程度（仅针对女性）与无子女情况有关。在对传统家庭支持和大家庭支持的衡量指标上得分较高的人，无子女率往往也较低。另一方面，职业地位、宗教派别和种族与无子女情况没有显著关联。性别平等、宗教原教旨主义以及对职业母亲的支持程度的衡量指标也与无子女情况无关。
