{"id":2651802,"date":"2026-08-29T19:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T23:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/study-liberals-have-fewer-kids-fear-parenting-more-than-conservatives\/"},"modified":"2026-08-29T19:54:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-29T23:54:43","slug":"study-liberals-have-fewer-kids-fear-parenting-more-than-conservatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/study-liberals-have-fewer-kids-fear-parenting-more-than-conservatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Study: Liberals Have Fewer Kids, Fear Parenting More Than Conservatives"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fstudy-liberals-have-fewer-kids-fear-parenting-more-than-conservatives%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2651802&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses a June 2026 report by the Institute for Family Studies (IFS), which highlights a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ohio-senate-polls-bernie-moreno-vs-sherrod-brown\/\" title=\"Ohio Senate polls Bernie Moreno vs Sherrod Brown.\">significant ideological divide<\/a> in fertility rates and family planning preferences between liberals and conservatives in the United States. Based on surveys of over 7,000 Americans aged 18-54, it reveals that conservatives, on average, have more children (1.40) and desire more (around 2.71) than liberals (1.09 children and 2.16 desired children). The differences are partly explained by liberals&#8217; greater concerns about parenting, genetics, mental health, and apprehensions about passing on hereditary issues.<\/p>\n<p>The report suggests that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-white-houses-economic-woes-dampen-birth-rate-efforts\/\" title=\"The White House&#039;s economic woes dampen birth rate efforts\">cultural factors play<\/a> a substantial role. These include &#8220;expressive individualism,&#8221; a cultural trend emphasizing personal authenticity over family commitments, which influences liberals more than conservatives. Modern American culture&#8217;s therapy mindset and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >anti-child propaganda contribute<\/a> to fears and skepticism about parenthood. Additionally, secularism diminishes perceived value in life creation, contrasting with religious beliefs, notably among conservatives, that see children as a divine blessing.<\/p>\n<p>while conservatives tend to have larger families, the gap is more about degrees influenced by cultural and societal factors than stark ideological differences, pointing to broader cultural explanations rather than political ones for fertility trends.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Liberal Americans have and desire fewer children than conservatives, according to a June 2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/ifstudies.org\/report-brief\/the-ideological-fertility-divide\">report<\/a> by the Institute for Family Studies (IFS) titled \u201cThe Ideological Fertility Divide.\u201d The report, based on survey results from more than 7,000 Americans aged 18-54, shows statistically significant gaps between ideology types in both the number of children adults currently have and the number of children they want. This gap is due, at least in part, to higher fears about parenting among liberals.<\/p>\n<p>The headline result is that conservative adults have 1.40 children on average, compared to an average of 1.09 for liberals. Another way of framing these data is that conservatives have 28% more children than liberals.<\/p>\n<p>If both numbers seem suspiciously low, remember that the survey targets an age range from 18 to 54. This includes college students and young adults just setting out on their own. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/shapiro-8-leftist-myths-about-the-war-on-women\/\" title=\"Debunking 8 Leftist Misconceptions on &#039;The War On Women\">estimated median age<\/a> for marriage is now 30.8 for men and 28.4 for women, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/newsroom\/press-releases\/2025\/families-and-living-arrangements.html\">U.S. Census Bureau<\/a> in December 2025. Thus, 36% of the ages surveyed are younger than the average age of marriage. If the low numbers show anything, it reflects the cultural trend to marry later and have children later than was customary with earlier generations.<\/p>\n<p>A more insightful result may come from the survey\u2019s question asking respondents to identify their ideal number of children. Conservatives gave answers that averaged out to 2.71 children, while liberals gave answers that averaged 2.16 children. Like the first result, conservatives gave answers that were 25% higher than liberals, and which were statistically significant.<\/p>\n<p>The discrepancy seems due in part to liberals registering more concerns over parenting, genetics, and mental health. When asked whether they would be a good parent, 18% of liberals were unsure, compared to 9% of conservatives. Fully a third (36%) of liberals viewed parenting as \u201cvery complicated, difficult, and stressful,\u201d compared to a quarter (24%) of conservatives.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGiven that both beliefs are associated with fewer children, their increased prevalence among liberals may help explain the ideological fertility gap,\u201d analyzed the IFS.<\/p>\n<p>Liberals (18%) were also more likely than conservatives (10%) to worry about passing on bad genes or hereditary conditions to their children. And liberals (19%) were more likely than conservatives (10%) to say their mental health is currently too poor to have children. Both of these concerns were also correlated with fewer children.<\/p>\n<p>Although it may be tempting to interpret these results in a stark binary \u2014 conservatives love kids, liberalism is antithetical to families, etc. \u2014 the results show more of a spectrum (especially since \u201cmoderates\u201d fell roughly in between). Indeed, the fact that conservatives gave answers that resulted in only 25% more children than liberals, on average, suggests that the two groups are closer to one another than much political rhetoric suggests.<\/p>\n<p>There are certainly factors that make conservatives more likely to have children than liberals, but the difference seems to be one of degree rather than kind. And, since both ideologies are implicated, it makes sense to look for cultural explanations rather than political ones.<\/p>\n<p>The defining cultural feature of our time is what theologian Carl Trueman calls \u201cexpressive individualism,\u201d where each person is defined by an inner core, and authenticity is found in expressing that outwardly. This notion is reflected in such simple phrases as \u201cyou do you,\u201d \u201cdo what tastes right,\u201d or \u201cmy truth,\u201d as well as more radical expressions in things such as transgender ideology. But Trueman depicts this ideology as the stuff we all swim in; just as a fish sees the water around him as simply normal, so Americans are so inculcated in this belief that we may not even realize how it affects us.<\/p>\n<p>With regard to family formation, expressive individualism undoubtedly has a negative effect. It encourages people to pursue dreams, such as career, travel, experiences, and so forth, as well as making their dreams more self-focused. Unless a person dreams of reading \u201cGo, Dog, Go\u201d 12 times in a day or coaching Little League, having children typically puts their dreams on hold for at least two decades.<\/p>\n<p>Expressive individualism has a greater influence over liberals than conservatives. The notion stems from mainstream liberal thought, so their worldview offers no resistance to it. Conservative ideas, especially those rooted in Christianity, often challenge the presuppositions of expressive individualism, leading conservatives to more self-consciously resist its effects.<\/p>\n<p>Relatedly, modern American culture is dominated by a therapy mindset, which encourages people to pursue self-validation but, counter-intuitively, tends to weaken a person\u2019s mental health \u2014 hence the modern tsunami of mental issues. According to the study, these impact liberals more than conservatives. Parenting largely consists of doing thankless tasks ad nauseam, not to mention the other negative indicators for mental health: poor sleep, \u201ctoxic\u201d relationships (because children are born sinful).<\/p>\n<p>Parenting provides neither self-validation nor a \u201csafe space,\u201d but it does provide deep happiness and fulfillment for those who rebel against cultural expectations and put others (particularly that screaming toddler) first.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps that last sentence came out of order, but these themes are so closely intertwined that it is hard to separate them. Another feature of American culture is virulent anti-child propaganda. From Hollywood to the media, there are numerous examples of cultural icons who talk down to settling down, glorify irresponsibility, or simply provide lousy examples of how to parent. Thus, when people exposed to such propaganda override its influence and choose to have children anyway, they really are rebelling against the expectations the culture has set for them.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps this is the origin of the concerns many people, both liberal and conservative, feel about whether they will be an adequate parent. If young people know about family life only from television (or worse, social media), without any real contact with families living life around them, it will give them a distorted picture of what it looks like. It is essentially fear of the unknown, in another form.<\/p>\n<p>A final cultural factor is the anti-life sentiment stemming from secularism. If human beings are nothing special, then what\u2019s so special about making more of them? But, if humans are made in the image of God \u2014 and conservatives are more likely than liberals to acknowledge this \u2014 then there is a great blessing in raising up the next generation of image-bearers. \u201cBehold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one\u2019s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!\u201d (Psalm 127:3-5).<\/p>\n<p>Alas, it seems that not many conservatives have fully committed themselves to this idea. While some people have large families, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-origins-of-the-anti-human-depopulation-agenda\/\" title=\"The Origin of the Anti-Human Depopulation Agenda\">ideal family size<\/a> for conservatives only averages out to 2.71 children \u2014hardly higher than the replacement rate. If an archer is happy with less than three arrows in his quiver, then perhaps this is adequate. But if not, it seems that even the conservative ideal for having children is closer to the liberal ideal than the biblical one.<\/p>\n<div><em>Joshua Arnold is a senior writer at The Washington Stand.<\/em><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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