Human Ecology Research

The Korean Home Economics Association (대한가정학회)
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Factors Associated with the Possibility of Marriage and Childbearing among Never Married Young Adults in Korea

20대와 30대 비혼 청년의 결혼 및 출산 가능성 관련 요인

  • Sua Hong (Department of Family Studies, Sookmyung Women's University) ;
  • Seohee Son (Department of Family & Resource Management, Sookmyung Women's University) ;
  • Jahye Choi (Department of Family Studies, Sookmyung Women's University)
  • 홍수아 (숙명여자대학교 가족학과) ;
  • 손서희 (숙명여자대학교 가족자원경영학과) ;
  • 최자혜 (숙명여자대학교 가족학과)
  • Received : 2023.02.21
  • Accepted : 2023.03.22
  • Published : 2023.05.30
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine how sociodemographic status, family-related influences, and perceived future economic prospects were associated with the possibility of getting married and having children in a sample of 607 single young Korean adults. The sample comprised unmarried men and women in their 20s and 30s taken from the 2021 Seoul Family Report survey, and descriptive statistical and multiple regression analyses were conducted on the data. The results indicated that age, non-traditional marriage/childbearing values, parents' marital relationship during childhood, and the prospect of having a stable job and owning a home were significantly related to the possibility of marriage. With regard to the possibility of having children, a significant relationship was found with age, level of education, non-traditional marriage/childbearing values, recognition of the importance of family, parents' marital relationship during childhood, and the prospect of having a stable job and owning a home. The study also examined the importance of policies that make the possibility of marriage and having children more appealing to young unmarried adults in Korea by providing a positive outlook for the economy, a sense of stability, and a supportive approach to the value of having a family.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by 2021 Seoul Family Report (4-2104-0011) through the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Family Center.

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