The value of family and parenthood in the eyes of modern students

Background. The value attitude of modern student youth to the family is an urgent social problem, the solution of which largely determines the demographic future of our country. In addition, the importance of this issue is particularly significant in the context of the crisis of the family as a system, declining birth rate, as well as the orientation of young people to a later date of starting a family and having children.

Purpose. On the basis of theoretical and empirical data to describe the attitude of modern student youth to family creation, the value of family and parenthood for modern students.

Materials and methods. The main research methods were theoretical analysis and empirical experiment. Theoretical method allowed us to study and generalise the domestic experience of family value formation. In the course of empirical research the method of questionnaire survey was applied. The results of the study are presented in the form of diagrams.

Results. Theoretical analysis has allowed us to state that in modern conditions the formation of family values has been transformed under the influence of the popularisation of various non-standard models of family relationships in the media and Internet resources; the growing tendencies of ‘child-free’, i.e. conscious refusal to have children; the transformation of views from traditional family to informal relationships, as well as the preference for building a career and achieving a high social status. The questionnaire survey of students conducted in the course of the empirical research focuses the attention of researchers on the problem of young people's attitudes towards marriage, family formation and the birth of children in the family. Today's students intend to start a family and have children in the future, but at the same time they believe that having a child may hinder their professional career.

They fear that they will not be able to combine their responsibilities at home and at work. Many also note that low income and difficult life circumstances do not favour the birth of children. The results of this study contribute to the expansion of both theoretical facts about the peculiarities of reproductive behaviour of student youth and practical data that can be successfully applied in individual and family psychotherapy and psychological counselling of young families.