Decisions about having children are now made not by tradition or family pressure. The latest CBOS study on parenting in Generations Z and Y

In Poland, more and more adults are childless or choosing to have fewer children than before. This phenomenon is clearly visible in the latest CBOS study, "Generations Z and Y on Parenthood," conducted among a representative sample of Poles aged 18-44. Through the lens of this study, we can see the fears and calculations behind conscious decisions to forgo parenthood or limit the number of offspring.

Among childless respondents, one of the dominant reasons for choosing not to have children is the belief that they simply don't want to have children —a simple statement, but one that often conceals a range of other, complex motivations. Respondents also mention factors such as:

• too much responsibility – bringing stress, obligations, limitations,

• time pressure : "too late" for children - it is often difficult to reconcile social, biological and financial expectations,

• the need for independence and time for yourself ,

• lack of a partner,

• fear of a decline in living standards .

These motives indicate that the decision to have children today is not only a matter of emotions, tradition or social pressure, but also of numerous pragmatic calculations – economic, housing, life.

People who are already parents, in the CBOS survey, give other main reasons why they do not plan to have more children:

• a sense of satisfaction with childcare/procreative needs are already met – 67% of respondents in this group say that this is enough,

• belief that it is too late to have another child — 29%,

• material factors - financial problems (18%), lack of adequate housing conditions (9%), fear of deterioration of living conditions (8%),

• professional obstacles – difficulties in combining work and childcare (12%).

These data indicate that even with parenting experience, young people set limits – the limits of their abilities, aspirations, and life situation.

The CBOS study is part of a larger picture: Poland is facing a demographic decline in birth rates, and the number of people choosing to live without children is increasing, or choosing to have fewer children than they would like "someday." The report indicates that young Poles also recognize the difficulties of raising a child in today's world—that it is a significant challenge, requiring many sacrifices.

Economic factors—the cost of housing, care, and education—as well as expectations regarding living standards and the availability of support (e.g., family, public health services) are also important. Furthermore, time is of the essence—young people are starting families later and are more likely to live in unstable relationships, which influences decisions about children.

If the trend continues, it may mean a further deepening of the demographic deficit – fewer children today → fewer young people in the future, which has consequences for the labor market, pension systems, and social security.

From the perspective of public policy and family-friendly activities, it is important to:

1. Strengthening material support – housing, subsidies or tax breaks for families, assistance with childcare costs.

2. Flexible working conditions – to make combining work and childcare easier.

3. Institutional support – nurseries, kindergartens, day care – availability and costs.

4. Changing the social discourse – accepting different life paths, reducing the pressure on parenthood as a duty, and promoting a balance between personal and family life.

The CBOS study clearly shows that decisions about children are increasingly being made not based on tradition or family pressure, but through conscious, multidimensional consideration of costs and benefits—financial, emotional, and personal. For many people, "not wanting children" means, above all, being unable to provide adequate living conditions for them or risking their own well-being.

If Poland wants to reverse the trend of declining fertility rates, simply encouraging childbearing may not be enough – a systemic change of conditions is necessary: ​​the economy, housing, social welfare and professional flexibility must go hand in hand with culture and family values.