VOLUNTARY CHILDLESSNESS: A COMPARISON OF ATTITUDES

It was the intent of this research to: (1) determine from voluntarily childless couples (C-) their reasons for being childless; (2) determine from those who are or intend to be parents (C+) the reasons they impute to C- couples; and (3) examine certain demographic variables and their relationship to C+ and C- status. Of the seventy-eight couples responding to the questionnaire, four were C-. This was the number which could be expected for the youthful age of the sample. It did limit statistical reliability. Both C+ and C- respondents thought reasons relating to personal freedom and the population situation were important. There was disparity between them concerning: financial cost, prior experience, unwillingness to make commitments, social status climbing, uncertainty about parental abilities, physical aspects of having children, and marital satisfaction. Religion was the only demographic variable that showed a difference between responding groups. Most C+ respondents were Christians whereas none of the C-respondents were so designated