More than 1 in 5 US adults don’t want children From the 10 insights on today's news that will make you smarter tomorrow series Jennifer Watling Neal, Professor of Psychology, Michigan State University Aug 3, 2022 Aug 3, 2022 Updated Aug 22, 2023 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Americans are deciding to be childfree at a far younger age than previously thought. Photo via Smith Collection/Gado/Getty ImageskAmu62CD 23@FE 564=:?:?8 76CE:=:EJ C2E6D 92G6 4@>6 7C@> D@FC46D 2D 5:G6CD6 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?34?6HD]4@>^E9:?<^@A:?:@?^A@A6\7C2?4:D\4=2:>D\A6ED\C6A=24:?8\49:=5C6?\>2?J\72>:=:6D\D6=7:D9\D\?4?2`agf`c_Qm!@A6 uC2?4:Dk^2m 2?5 %6D=2 rt~ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^EH:EE6C]4@>^6=@?>FD<^DE2EFD^`dcd_ce`cedcg_`ha_`Qmt=@? |FD<k^2m] %96 &]$] $FAC6>6 r@FCE’D 564:D:@? :? s@33D G] y24<D@? 4@F=5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H2D9:?8E@?A@DE]4@>^@FE=@@<^a_aa^_e^ac^5@33D\C@6\7@C465\AC68?2?4J^Qm7@C46 H@>6? E@ 8:G6 3:CE9 282:?DE E96:C H:D96Dk^2m[ H9:=6 2 C646?E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96E:>6D]4@]F<^2CE:4=6^D9@F=5\H6\E2I\E96\49:=5=6DD\;f9h4ahfCQmqC:E:D9 65:E@C:2=k^2m 6G6? AC@A@D65 2 E2I @? A6@A=6 H:E9@FE 49:=5C6?]k^Am People are also reading… 12-year-old arrested in death of classmate who was hit in the head by a metal water bottle Kearney restaurant owner Carlos Godinez will be deported Learning Adventures Childcare plans culturally diverse summer curriculum State troopers trying to locate man who ran from traffic stop near Overton Geiser family opens hardware store in Lexington TRACK: Cozad boys win team title at Ogallala Gothenburg High School speech team overjoyed with state results On one busy day, Gothenburg senior wins state speech, earns FFA presidency Sarah Neben: Gothenburg girls tennis defeats Ogallala in dual Lexington soccer sweeps North Platte NRCS offers disaster assistance to ag producers in Nebraska impacted by wildfires Local 4-H'ers compete in Dawson County speech contest Cozad boys track wins team title at Holdrege Lexington hosts unified track meet kAm|65:2 @FE=6ED C68F=2C=J A@:?E @FE E92E >@C6 p>6C:42?D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4?34]4@>^a_aa^_f^a_^3:CE9\C2E6\7:?2?4:2=\96D:E2?4J]9E>=Qm2C6 92G:?8 76H6C 49:=5C6?k^2m @C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]3FD:?6DD:?D:56C]4@>^FD\3:CE9\76CE:=:EJ\C2E6\564=:?6\92G:?8\323J\>:==6??:2=D\<:5D\4@DE\a_a`\eQm7@C8@:?8 A2C6?E9@@5 2=E@86E96Ck^2m]k^AmkAmqFE 9@H >2?J p>6C:42?D H2?E E@ 92G6 <:5D 2?5 42?’En ~C 2C6 DE:== A=2??:?8 E@ 36 A2C6?ED 5@H? E96 C@25n w@H >2?J 2C6 4@?D4:@FD=J >2<:?8 E96 49@:46 E@ ?6G6C 92G6 <:5Dnk^Am kAm(9:=6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]46?DFD]8@G^E@A:4D^962=E9^76CE:=:EJ^52E2]9E>=Qm@77:4:2= DE2E:DE:4D :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6Dk^2m 2?5 6=D6H96C6 EC24< 76CE:=:EJ[ E96J 5@?’E AC@G:56 :?D:89E :?E@ E96 A6@A=6 H9@ 92G6 ?@E 925 49:=5C6?] %96C6 2C6 >2?J 5:776C6?E EJA6D @7 ?@?A2C6?EDi “r9:=57C66” A6@A=6 5@ ?@E H2?E 49:=5C6?j “49:=5=6DD” A6@A=6 H2?E 49:=5C6? 3FE 42?’E 92G6 E96>j “?@E\J6E A2C6?ED” A=2? E@ 92G6 49:=5C6? :? E96 7FEFC6j “F?564:565” A6@A=6 2C6?’E DFC6 E96J H:== 92G6 49:=5C6?j 2?5 “2>3:G2=6?E” A6@A=6 2C6?’E DFC6 E96J H@F=5 92G6 H2?E65 49:=5C6?]k^Am kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_bg^Dc`dhg\_aa\`dfag\KQmx? 2 a_aa DEF5Jk^2m @7 `[d__ 25F=ED :? |:49:82?[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D49@=2C]8@@8=6]4@>^4:E2E:@?DnFD6Clw'y)h08ppppyU2>Aj9=l6?QmH6k^2m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D49@=2C]8@@8=6]4@>^4:E2E:@?DnFD6Cl<4sa!6*ppppyU2>Aj9=l6?Qm7@F?5k^2m E92E a`]ecT @7 25F=ED 5@ ?@E H2?E E@ 92G6 49:=5C6? 2?5 E96C67@C6 2C6 49@@D:?8 E@ 36 49:=57C66]k^Amk9amx56?E:7J:?8 49:=57C66 A6@A=6k^9amkAm%@ :56?E:7J 49:=57C66 A6@A=6[ H6 2D<65 6249 A2CE:4:A2?E 2 D6C:6D @7 FA E@ E9C66 BF6DE:@?Dik^Am kF=mk=:ms@ J@F 92G6[ @C 92G6 J@F 6G6C 925[ 2?J 3:@=@8:42=[ DE6A\[ @C 25@AE65 49:=5C6?nk^=:mk=:ms@ J@F A=2? E@ 92G6 2?J 3:@=@8:42= @C 25@AE65 49:=5C6? :? E96 7FEFC6nk^=:mk=:ms@ J@F H:D9 J@F 925 @C 4@F=5 92G6 3:@=@8:42= @C 25@AE65 49:=5C6?nk^=:mk^F=m kAm#6DA@?56?ED 4@F=5 2?DH6C “J6D[” “?@[” @C “x 5@?’E <?@H” E@ 6249 BF6DE:@?] (6 4=2DD:7:65 2D 49:=57C66 E9@D6 H9@ 2?DH6C65 “?@” E@ 2== E9C66]k^Am kAm~FC 6DE:>2E6 @7 E96 ?F>36C @7 49:=57C66 A6@A=6 :D >F49 9:896C E92? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH];DE@C]@C8^DE23=6^c`aaghaQmA2DE ?2E:@?2= DEF5:6Dk^2m[ H9:49 A=2465 E96 A6C46?E286 36EH66? aT 2?5 hT] %9:D =:<6=J 92AA6?65 3642FD6 @FC >62DFC6>6?E 7@4FD6D @? 2 A6CD@?’D 56D:C6 E@ 92G6 49:=5C6?[ ?@E E96:C 23:=:EJ] %9:D :D :>A@CE2?E 3642FD6 2 A6CD@? 42? 36 49:=57C66 H96E96C E96J 2C6 3:@=@8:42==J 42A23=6 @7 92G:?8 49:=5C6? @C ?@E]k^Am kAmk:7C2>6 :5lQ%?u9rQ DEJ=6lQ3@C56Ci ?@?6jQ ?2>6lQ%?u9rQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^52E2HC2AA6C]5H45?]?6E^%?u9r^b^Q 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q H:5E9lQ`__TQ 96:89ElQc__Qmk^:7C2>6mk^Am kAm~FC 6DE:>2E6 :D 2=D@ D=:89E=J =@H6C E92? 2? :?:E:2= 6DE:>2E6 – afT – 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`bf`^;@FC?2=]A@?6]_adadagQm2 a_a` DEF5Jk^2m E92E H6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^72C\>@C6\25F=ED\5@?E\H2?E\49:=5C6?\E92?\AC6G:@FD=J\E9@F89E\`eb`caQmHC@E6 23@FE 2 J62C 28@k^2m] %96 @C:8:?2= DEF5J 5:5 ?@E 2==@H C6DA@?56?ED E@ 2?DH6C “x 5@?’E <?@H” E@ E96D6 BF6DE:@?D 2?5 E96C67@C6 4@F=5 ?@E D6A2C2E6 E96 F?564:565 @C 2>3:G2=6?E 7C@> E96 49:=57C66] (6 H6C6 DFCAC:D65 E92E 27E6C C67:?:?8 @FC >62DFC6>6?E E@ 5:DE:?8F:D9 E96D6 F?:BF6 8C@FAD[ H6 DE:== @3D6CG65 D@ >2?J 49:=57C66 25F=ED]k^Am kAm#@F89=J 92=7 E96 25F=ED :? @FC DEF5J H6C6 A2C6?ED[ 3FE 49:=57C66 25F=ED H6C6 E96 =2C86DE ?@?A2C6?E 8C@FA] (9:=6 @FC DFCG6J H2D?’E ?2E:@?2==J C6AC6D6?E2E:G6[ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]46?DFD]8@G^BF:4<724ED^724E^E23=6^&$[|x^!$%_cdaa`Qma_a` r6?DFDk^2m D9@H65 E92E |:49:82? :D 56>@8C2A9:42==J D:>:=2C E@ E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D :? E6C>D @7 286[ C246[ 65F42E:@? 2?5 :?4@>6] x7 E96 A2EE6C? H6 92G6 @3D6CG65 :? |:49:82? C67=64ED ?2E:@?2= EC6?5D[ :E H@F=5 >62? d_ >:==:@? E@ e_ >:==:@? p>6C:42? 25F=ED 2C6 49:=57C66]k^Am k9am%96J’C6 564:5:?8 62C=J :? =:76k^9am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS Feed | Omny Studio | All Of Our Podcasts kAm!6@A=6[ 6DA64:2==J H@>6?[ H9@ D2J E96J 5@?’E H2?E 49:=5C6? 2C6 @7E6? E@=5 E96J’== 492?86 E96:C >:?5] qFE H6 7@F?5 E92E’D =:<6=J ?@E E96 42D6]k^Am kAmx? @FC DEF5J[ A6@A=6 C6A@CE65 >2<:?8 E96 564:D:@? E@ 36 49:=57C66 62C=J :? =:76[ >@DE @7E6? :? E96:C E66?D 2?5 a_D] |@C6@G6C[ :E :D?’E ;FDE J@F?8 A6@A=6 H9@ 2C6 4=2:>:?8 E96J 5@?’E H2?E 49:=5C6?] |2?J H@>6? H9@ 564:565 :? E96:C E66?D E@ 36 49:=57C66 2C6 >F49 @=56C ?@H[ 2?5 2C6 DE:== 49:=57C66]k^AmkAmk:7C2>6 :5lQb#qBeQ DEJ=6lQ3@C56Ci ?@?6jQ ?2>6lQb#qBeQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^52E2HC2AA6C]5H45?]?6E^b#qBe^a^Q 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q H:5E9lQ`__TQ 96:89ElQc__Qmk^:7C2>6mk^Am kAm~FC 7:?5:?8D 56A2CE 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`b__^y__aG_a?_a0_`QmC6D62C49 4@?5F4E65 :? E96 `hf_Dk^2m[ H9:49 7@F?5 E92E 49:=57C66 25F=ED E6?565 E@ 2CC:G6 2E E96:C 564:D:@? =2E6C :? =:76 27E6C A@DEA@?:?8 A2C6?E9@@5 7@C >2?J J62CD] t2C=:6C 564:D:@?D >2J C67=64E 492?8:?8 ?@C>D E@H2C5 A2C6?E9@@5 2?5 2? :?4C62D:?8 C64@8?:E:@? 2?5 2446AE2?46 @7 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E:>6]4@>^ac`^92G:?8\:E\2==\H:E9@FE\92G:?8\49:=5C6?^Qm49:=57C66 =:76DEJ=6k^2m]k^Am k9am&?56CA@AF=2E:@? :D?’E E96 AC@3=6>k^9amkAms6DA:E6 |FD<’D :?D:DE6?46 E92E E96C6 :D 2? F?56CA@AF=2E:@? 4C:D:D[ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@CEF?6]4@>^a_aa^_f^``^6=@?\>FD<\F?56CA@AF=2E:@?\4C:D:D\F?\A@AF=2E:@?\C6A@CE^Qm8=@32= A@AF=2E:@? H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ 8C@Hk^2m]k^Am k5:G 52E2\C624E\4=2DDlQ%H66EQ 52E2\C624E\AC@ADlQLQm k^5:GmkAm%9:D 8C@HE9 H:== =:<6=J 92G6 2 ?682E:G6 :>A24E @? 4=:>2E6 492?86 – k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^2\=@?8\7FD6\E96\A@AF=2E:@?\3@>3\:D\DE:==\E:4<:?8\d_\J62CD\27E6C\:ED\AF3=:42E:@?\he_h_QmD@>6 C6D62C496CD 4@?E6?5k^2m E92E @?6 @7 E96 36DE H2JD E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D4:6?46]@C8^4@?E6?E^2CE:4=6^36DE\H2J\C65F46\J@FC\42C3@?\7@@EAC:?E\@?6\8@G6C?>6?E\:D?\E\E6==:?8\J@F\23@FEQmC65F46 42C3@? 6>:DD:@?Dk^2m :D E@ 92G6 76H6C 49:=5C6?]k^Am kAm|62?H9:=6[ E96 s@33D 564:D:@? 92D 49:==:?8 :>A=:42E:@?D 7@C E96 >:==:@?D @7 p>6C:42?D H9@ 2C6 49:=57C66i p D:8?:7:42?E DH2E9 @7 E96> 2C6 ?@H 2E C:D< @7 36:?8 7@C465 E@ 92G6 49:=5C6? 56DA:E6 ?@E H2?E:?8 E96>]k^Am kAmxDDF6D 27764E:?8 49:=57C66 p>6C:42?D 8@ 36J@?5 C6AC@5F4E:G6 7C665@>] u@C 6I2>A=6[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D9C>]@C8^C6D@FC46D2?5E@@=D^9C\E@A:4D^A6@A=6\>2?286CD^A286D^49:=5=6DD\H@C<6CD]2DAIQmH@C<A=246 A@=:4:6D @? H@C<\=:76 32=2?46 @7E6? 72G@C A2C6?EDk^2m] q642FD6 D@ >2?J A6@A=6 2C6 49:=57C66[ H6 36=:6G6 E96 ?665D @7 E9:D 8C@FA H2CC2?E >@C6 2EE6?E:@? 7C@> A@=:4J>2<6CD]k^Am kAm000k^AmkAmk6>m+2492CJ }62= C646:G6D 7F?5:?8 7C@> E96 }2E:@?2= $4:6?46 u@F?52E:@? 2?5 E96 x?DE:EFE6 7@C !F3=:4 !@=:4J 2?5 $@4:2= #6D62C49]k^6>mk^AmkA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>my6??:76C (2E=:?8 }62= C646:G6D 7F?5:?8 7C@> E96 }2E:@?2= x?DE:EFE6 @7 |6?E2= w62=E9 2?5 E96 x?DE:EFE6 7@C !F3=:4 !@=:4J 2?5 $@4:2= #6D62C49]k^6>mk^Am kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>m000k^6>mk^Am In this Series 10 insights on today's news that will make you smarter tomorrow Updated Aug 22, 2023 Lost touch with someone? Reach out – your friend will likely appreciate it more than you think Updated May 30, 2023 More young voters could come out to vote in November, sparked by abortion and other hot political issues Updated Aug 22, 2023 US abortion restrictions are unlikely to influence international trends, which are largely becoming more liberal 167 updates Previous Next 0 Comments Locations Lincoln Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Interactives: Abortion laws around the US and world See the status of abortion laws and review related data as the U.S. Supreme Court considers overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. States where the most people live in maternal health care deserts in 2022 Stacker Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio | All Of Our Podcasts Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance still top of mind for her neighbors War in the Middle East: Donald Trump threatens to hit Iran power plants War in the Middle East: Donald Trump threatens to hit Iran power plants Iranian government minister dismisses Trump threat in AP interview AP Iranian government minister dismisses Trump threat in AP interview Jackie and Shadow’s 2026 chicks make Easter debut on live cam Jackie and Shadow’s 2026 chicks make Easter debut on live cam
Interactives: Abortion laws around the US and world See the status of abortion laws and review related data as the U.S. Supreme Court considers overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.
Americans are deciding to be childfree at a far younger age than previously thought. Photo via Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images
