A new international study paints a complex picture of involuntary childlessness among young adults. It particularly attempts to influence those political leaders living in Israel and the United States. The study, led by Prof. Geva Shenkman-Lachberg from Reichman University and Dr. Doyle Tate from the University of North Florida, focused on analyzing transportation data to address this issue. Among participants without children, they surveyed 1,026 individuals from the US and 713 from Israel. The study’s results, published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, show big gaps. These variations underscore the unique ways each of the two populations experience being childless.
The researchers’ original hypothesis was that Americans would report more involuntary childlessness than Israelis. This hope was based on the differing levels of government support offered in each country. The US has the least generous supports for families of any country. Conversely, Israel offers a robust array of family-support policies, creating vastly different lived experiences and views of parenthood.
Study Demographics and Methodology
The study’s sample truly represents a diverse group of young adults, made up of men and women and people with different sexual orientations. In Israel, 387 queer and trans participants — as well as 326 straight or cisgender participants — filled out the survey. Likewise, in the US, heterosexual respondents outnumbered US based LGBTQ+ respondents by 604 to 422. This demographic diversity allowed researchers to explore how different groups experience childlessness within the context of their respective societal frameworks.
Participants described their experiences of not having children and the feelings that came with it. From application to presentation, the survey focused on highlighting the individual experiences of each group. In particular, it magnified the barriers that LGBTQ+ people face. Israel has been working to advance inclusive surrogacy legislation. Yet LGBTQ+ people as a whole continue to deal with greater institutional and social adversity that may exacerbate their experiences of involuntary childlessness more than heterosexuals.
Key Findings
Additionally, American participants had much higher rates of involuntary childlessness as well. Year-to-year variation was observed, but comparatively lower rates existed among participants located in Israel. Specifically, the study found that 52% of LGBTQ+ respondents in the US reported feelings of involuntary childlessness, in contrast to 44% of heterosexual respondents. In Israel, the figures were notably different: 68% of LGBTQ+ participants reported feeling involuntarily childless, while only 32% of heterosexual participants echoed similar sentiments.
These findings underscore the key societal and governmental contexts that shape the nature of family support. They are the most important drivers of how people experience childlessness. The disparity in rates between the two countries emphasizes the potential impact of public policies on citizens’ reproductive choices and experiences.
“The findings show that public policies that support parenthood—such as those in place in Israel, where there is widespread access to state-funded fertility treatments—can reduce experiences of involuntary childlessness in the general population. At the same time, despite remarkable progress in surrogacy legislation, LGBTQ+ people in Israel continue to encounter institutional and social barriers that appear to increase their sense of involuntary childlessness compared to heterosexuals.” – Prof. Geva Shenkman Lachberg
Implications for Family Support Policies
It’s one way the study points to public policy making a meaningful difference in the lives of childless individuals. American and Israeli participants had very different experiences, highlighting the importance of well-rounded family support systems. How empowered people feel about parenthood is significantly affected by access to fertility treatments. Moreover, the support services that parents engage with help determine how parents experience their agency.
Additionally, the study highlights the distinct challenges LGBTQ+ communities experience in each country. Involuntary childlessness is particularly high among LGBTQ+ individuals. This underscores the immediate need of interventions that are specifically tailored to enact change with their unique social and institutional barriers.