{
  "id": 2123210,
  "title": "Why Liberals Have Fewer Kids Than Conservatives",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/why-liberals-have-fewer-kids-than-conservatives",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-20T11:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Atlantic",
    "slug": "the-atlantic",
    "url": "https://www.theatlantic.com/family/2026/08/fertility-gap-conservative-liberal/688334/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Over the past few years, research has revealed a notable trend: Americans who identify as liberals tend to have fewer children than those who identify as conservatives. This difference in fertility rates has sparked discussions about the possible reasons behind this ideological association.\n\nA June report by the Institute for Family Studies, a think tank promoting marriage and family life, surveyed over 7,000 Americans aged 18 to 54. The study found that self-identified conservatives had an average of 1.4 children, while liberals had an average of 1.09 children—a statistically significant disparity. Even after controlling for various factors that may influence family size, such as religion, race, income, age, marital status, and education, the ideological fertility gap remained consistent.\n\nSeveral academics believe that several factors contribute to this trend. First, liberals may experience more anxiety about the state of the world and their own parenting abilities, making them less inclined to start a family. Second, the values and aspirations of liberals and conservatives differ, shaping their choices in life, including family planning. Lastly, both groups have become increasingly segregated in terms of geography and lifestyle, reinforcing their respective decisions to have or not have children.\n\nThe ideological fertility gap is not limited to the United States; similar patterns have been observed in Europe. Liberals often have a more negative outlook on parenthood compared to conservatives. According to a 2024 study, 18% of liberal 12th graders were unsure if they would be good parents, compared to just 9% of conservative students. Additionally, liberals viewed parenting as \"very complicated, difficult, and stressful,\" with 19% expressing concern about their mental health being \"not good enough\" to have children. These views likely dissuade liberals from having children.\n\nResearchers suggest that various factors contribute to liberals' pessimistic view of parenthood. Liberals are more likely to consume mainstream media, which may expose them to societal problems like climate change or rising authoritarianism, increasing their concerns about raising children in such challenging environments. Liberals may also be more aware of changes in state policies that could make pregnancy riskier. Furthermore, liberals tend to believe that structural factors, such as the economy or housing market, shape their future, whereas conservatives often attribute success or failure to individual responsibility and free will.\n\nTherapeutic ideas about trauma and family dynamics might also play a role in discouraging liberals from having children. Liberals are more likely to seek counseling, and some therapeutic views suggest that raising children could exacerbate pre-existing trauma.",
  "summary": "What explains the partisan fertility gap?",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}