The Causes and Role of Antinatalism in Poland in the Context of Climate Change, Obstetric Care, and Mental Health

Filip Franciszek Karuga (), Bartosz Szmyd, Karolina Petroniec, Aleksandra Walter, Agnieszka Pawełczyk, Marcin Sochal, Piotr Białasiewicz, Dominik Strzelecki, Maria Respondek-Liberska, Monika Tadros-Zins and Agata Gabryelska ()
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Filip Franciszek Karuga: Department of Sleep Medicine and Metabolic Disorders, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, Poland
Bartosz Szmyd: Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Peripheral Nerves Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Lodz, Poland
Karolina Petroniec: Specialist Regional Hospital in Ciechanow, 06-400 Ciechanow, Poland
Aleksandra Walter: Pabianice Medical Center Sp. o.o., 95-200 Pabianice, Poland
Agnieszka Pawełczyk: Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Peripheral Nerves Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Lodz, Poland
Marcin Sochal: Department of Sleep Medicine and Metabolic Disorders, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, Poland
Piotr Białasiewicz: Department of Sleep Medicine and Metabolic Disorders, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, Poland
Dominik Strzelecki: Department of Affective and Psychotic Disorders, Medical University of Lodz, 92-215 Lodz, Poland
Maria Respondek-Liberska: Department for Diagnoses and Prevention, Medical University of Lodz, 93-338 Lodz, Poland
Monika Tadros-Zins: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital, 93-338 Lodz, Poland
Agata Gabryelska: Department of Sleep Medicine and Metabolic Disorders, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 20, 1-13

Abstract: Antinatalism is an umbrella term for numerous moral dilemmas associated with procreation. In the past few years, the deterioration of environmental conditions, social difficulties, global worsening of people’s mental health, and pandemics have induced discussion about antinatalism. Therefore, we aimed to characterize antinatalists in the Polish population in terms of the frequency and description of the main reasons behind this phenomenon. The cross-sectional study was performed in the Polish population. An online, four-part survey was performed between 19 and 25 January 2022. The study group comprised 1240 respondents. Antinatalists ( n = 472, 38%) were defined as people who do not have children and want to be childless in the future, whereas pronatalists ( n = 768, 62%) consisted of people who want to have offspring in the future and/or already have children. The opinion that climate change is a significant reason not to have a child appeared twice as often among antinatalists. Additionally, the performed binary logistic regression model highlighted the importance of the fear of climate change as an independent factor facilitating an antinatalistic attitude. Regarding females, the following factors discouraging them from having a child were observed: fear of child’s congenital diseases, pregnancy complications, dissatisfaction with medical services, and fear of exacerbation of maternal chronic diseases. Anxiety, depression, and stress were not found to be statistically different between pro- and antinatalist groups. However, further analysis revealed that female antinatalists were significantly more depressive and anxious. Our study helps us to understand why, as mentioned beforehand, around 38% of respondents prefer to stay childless. In conclusion, antinatalism views have become relatively prevalent in society, and its reasons include environmental antinatalism and medical factors, including depression and anxiety. However, better access to medical services and changes in climate politics were not found to be significant factors in encouraging society to decide to have offspring.

Keywords: environmental antinatalism; climate; environmentalism; depression; anxiety; childless (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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