Factors Associated with the Possibility of Marriage and Childbearing among Never Married Young Adults in Korea

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.