Perception of childbearing in a changing socioeconomic environment

Background and Study Objectives: The delay of childbearing reveals contemporary social norms of delaying marriage, pursing educational goals, career development, and in turn these factors lower the fertility rates . There are relatively few studies that examined women's psycho-economic norms, cultural differences, childbearing awareness and parenting attitudes of both U.S. and Japan.

Method: The Global COE Survey was conducted by Osaka University in Japan (n=5313) and in US. (n=4,934) in 2011. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to examine the impacts of psychosocial norms, cultural differences, and economic recession on perception of childbearing in both nations under different healthcare systems. The study analyzes the effects of childbearing incentives (e.g., social support, networking, family structure, positive social values, healthcare coverage, housing ownership) on numbers of childbirth under different socioeconomic conditions.

Results: The finding of Japanese and U.S. experience of childbearing shows an increase in happiness has a significant influence on childbearing. The society with income inequality discourages childbearing in Japan. Findings suggest that the individuals notice higher labor force participation would tend to generate a negative impact on the development of primary school children, and in turn the development from the traditional society to the modern market oriented society discourage childbearing for both Japan and U.S.

Conclusions/Implications: Women's perception of delayed childbearing based on psychosocial norms and economic recession would lead to medical and socio-welfare burden on working populations. Our significant finding confirms that the society a transitional society form "a patriarchal society" to a modern materialistic, consumerized, and market oriented society.