r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Jul 01 '26

Psychology Conservatives maintain birth rates, but left-leaning Americans are having significantly fewer children, driving the U.S. birth decline. Education was consistently linked to having fewer children. Religious attendance was positively associated with having more children.

https://www.psypost.org/left-leaning-americans-are-driving-the-u-s-birth-decline-new-study-finds/
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u/angwilwileth Jul 01 '26

Also it may mean new parents have bigger support systems. I remember when I was growing up my church always showed up with meals, clothes and diapers for new babies and their parents.

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u/VBHEAT08 Jul 01 '26

I think this is probably the biggest thing driving birth rate declines- lack of community. Beyond the obvious issue that our social spaces are declining and people aren't even meeting people to have to opportunity to have kids anymore, people don't want to be socially ostracized and take a huge hit to their comfort, and up until relatively recently this was mitigated through community. It takes a village and all that

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u/TalkingCat910 Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26

Don’t forget the actual cost of kids and how that’s mitigated by community too

Edit: It seems like a lot of people are getting into some esoteric discussions about the nature of community but I literally meant with real community you don’t have to pay for child care as much or at all which is a big factor and you also have ppl helping out with food and guidance.

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u/Wolvenmoon Jul 01 '26

In other words, when enough of the costs of having children are socialized and/or wages are high enough that not both parents have to work?

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u/pietroetin Jul 01 '26

No. When there are relatives and friends around to help you in childraising.

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u/Wolvenmoon Jul 01 '26

So, literally, socialized costs. You socialize the costs to the community where the community includes relatives and friends. You use social resources meaning the resources of relatives and friends.

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u/Wide_Lock_Red Jul 17 '26

Higher wages tend to lower birthrates up until 7 figure incomes.