Pandemic Perspectives: The Temporal Influence of COVID-19 on Attitudes Toward Marriage and Childbirth

Jessica Campbell ^1,2* Amanda N Gesselman ² Margaret Bennett-Brown ^2,3

• ¹ Center for Evaluation, Policy, and Research at Indiana University, Bloomington, United States
• ² Kinsey Institute, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, United States
• ³ Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, United States

In the past decade, the U.S. has witnessed a consistent decline in marriage and childbirth rates, and these life milestones are being pursued at later ages. The COVID-19 pandemic added complexity to these trends, simultaneously intensifying the desire for human connection while hampering the development of romantic relationships. This paper presents findings from two cross-sectional nationally representative surveys that explored how perceptions around the significance of marriage and children shifted during the first two years of the pandemic. Study 1 (n = 513) in January 2021 found that approximately 29% reported a decreased importance of marriage, while nearly 35% reported a reduced importance of child-bearing. Women and those with higher income reported an increase in the importance of marriage, while those with higher income reported an increase in the importance of having children. Study 2 (n = 1850) in August 2022 revealed a noteworthy contrast. Overall, participants expressed a consistent desire for marriage compared to pre-pandemic levels. Conversely, participants demonstrated a significant shift in their desire for children, indicating a greater inclination towards childlessness compared to pre-pandemic attitudes. 15.1% reported a reduced importance of having children. Higher income participants rated marriage as more important, while heterosexual participants rated having children as more important relative to pre-pandemic years. These results underscore the dynamic nature of individuals' perceptions surrounding marriage and childbearing in response to a transformative event like the COVID-19 pandemic. They provide valuable insights into the evolving cultural narrative around these milestones, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of societal values in the face of unprecedented change.