Generational Differences in Childrearing Values in the United States

• In Event: 50261 - Family Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 1: Childrearing & Parenthood

Abstract

Childrearing values provide insights into how individuals perceive the state of their society. In the United States, these values transitioned from an emphasis on obedience to self-expression during the post-materialist social changes of the 1950s to 1980s. Recently, however, they are changing again amid rising economic precarity. The share of Americans emphasizing survival values, such as hard work, has increased, while the emphasis on self-expression has declined. This study examines whether generational differences in family values are driving this renewed focus on hard work. Using data from the General Social Survey, preliminary results indicate that recent cohorts, born in the 1980s, are increasingly prioritizing survival values compared to older generations. These cohorts are the least likely to prefer self-expression values. These results imply that economic conditions during formative years influence individuals’ perspectives on childrearing, reflecting their broader views of society.

Author

• Hyo Joo Lee, Cornell University