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Love, Marriage and Reproduction Perspectives Study based on Higher Education sample: Exploring Factors, Impacts, and Interventions
In contemporary society, against the backdrop of globalization, urbanization, and economic development, views on love, marriage, and childbirth are undergoing unprecedented changes. The traditional model of marriage and family is being challenged, especially among the younger generation, as the definitions and responsibilities associated with love and marriage, along with preferences and timing for childbirth, have significantly shifted.
Over the past few decades, in many countries around the world, attitudes toward romance and marriage have evolved, with young people increasingly prioritizing personal freedom, independence, and self-fulfillment. In China, with economic growth, rising education levels, and the elevated social status of women, young people’s attitudes toward love and marriage are shifting from traditional family-oriented values toward more individualized and diverse choices. Parallel to this shift, views on childbirth have also changed profoundly. In modern society, especially given the increase in educational and career opportunities, many people are postponing or even choosing not to have children.
China faces the dual challenges of an aging population and declining birth rates, making views on childbirth a hot topic in social policy and academic research. Amid accelerated globalization and internationalization, ideas about marriage and childbirth across different cultures are beginning to intersect and clash. This is particularly evident in a highly internationalized setting like Macau, where the fusion of diverse cultures impacts individuals' choices regarding marriage and childbirth, providing a rich social context for research.
The motivation for this study stems from an interest in the complexity and diversity of individual choices regarding marriage and childbirth in modern society. Specifically, with rapid social development, shifts in marriage and childbirth perspectives could have profound implications for future population structure, economic development, and social stability. Examining students’ attitudes toward marriage and childbirth can provide a scientific basis for government and society to develop policies that meet the needs of the younger generation. Understanding young people’s views on love, marriage, and childbirth will aid in designing social policies that better align with their needs, such as marriage registration, family support, and childcare policies.
Additionally, UM’s internationalized environment provides an opportunity to explore how different cultures influence attitudes toward marriage and childbirth, examining the challenges and opportunities in forming cross-cultural marriages and families. Research on these cultural differences can significantly contribute to sociological studies in a globalized context, especially in understanding how culture shapes individual choices in marriage and childbirth.
The primary objectives are:
To document, analyze, and describe the existence, scope, and forms of marriage and childbirth attitudes as social phenomena.
To further explore the causes behind these phenomena. For instance, this study will examine the main factors influencing students’ views on marriage and childbirth, analyzing their social backgrounds such as family upbringing, socioeconomic status, and cultural factors.
To investigate the consequences and impacts, such as the influence of marriage and childbirth perspectives on university students’ future career planning or their sense of social role identity.
To conduct experimental or quasi-experimental research to study the effects of social interventions on the phenomenon. For example, an intervention project could be designed to provide participants with specific information or education to observe whether their attitudes toward marriage and childbirth change. Alternatively, information technology methods could be employed to control and manipulate specific variables, allowing direct observation of how these variables influence marriage attitudes or fertility intentions. This approach may be used to investigate causes or to validate the effectiveness of a particular recommendation.
To validate the applicability of existing sociological theories.
To compare social phenomena or attitudes across different groups, regions, or countries. For instance, comparing the attitudes of undergraduate students toward marriage and childbirth across different cultural backgrounds can help analyze cross-cultural differences, revealing both universality and specificity.
Enrichment of Research Literature on Attitudes Toward Marriage and Childbearing: This study will contribute new data on the diversity of attitudes toward love, marriage, and childbearing, expanding the existing research literature on these topics.
A Unique Cross-Cultural Perspective: Given the internationalized environment at the University of Macau, the research findings will help to understand how cultural differences manifest in attitudes toward marriage and childbearing. This study can reveal the influence of diverse cultural backgrounds on marriage and childbearing choices, providing robust support for sociocultural research in a globalized context and offering data references for issues related to cross-cultural marriage and fertility.
Advancement of Gender and Family Studies: The research will facilitate discussions on the relationship between gender roles and family responsibilities, especially concerning attitudes toward marriage and childbearing across different groups. This will offer new analytical frameworks and findings for fields such as gender studies and family studies, deepening the understanding of family structure and gender relations.
Revealing Social Trends in Marriage and Childbearing Attitudes: By examining young people’s attitudes toward marriage and childbearing, this study can help society recognize evolving trends in these attitudes. Such insights are crucial for understanding future social structure, population trends, and changes in family models.
Support for Population and Family Policies: This research can provide a foundation for governments to develop more reasonable and effective policies on marriage, family, and childbearing. By understanding the marriage and childbearing choices of young people, governments can design policies that align better with real needs. Especially in the context of declining birth rates, the study’s findings can inform adjustments to population policies. For example, policies on marriage subsidies, childcare allowances, and housing benefits for young people can be optimized based on the research results to enhance policy effectiveness.
Design of Social Education Programs: The research findings can be used to create social education programs aimed at young people, helping them navigate life issues such as love, marriage, and parenthood. By understanding the needs and perspectives of different groups, educational institutions can develop more targeted courses and training to raise awareness and improve society’s capacity to address marriage and childbearing issues.
Improvement of Marriage and Family Counseling Services: Marriage and family counseling agencies can use the research results to provide personalized counseling and support services tailored to different groups. For example, in response to the trend of young people delaying marriage and parenthood, counseling agencies can offer more targeted psychological support and guidance to help them make rational and personally suitable decisions.