Corona virus seems to have turned our lives upside down, as previous studies indicated that the virus had affected marital relationships. While a return to normality is expected after the closure, a new survey, conducted by researchers from the University of Florence, Italy, says they do not expect a baby boom after the epidemic is over. On the contrary, the current data indicates that the number of births will decrease significantly in Italy and Europe.
"What we found from the main reasons that led people to want to have children, includes concerns about future economic difficulties and the consequences of pregnancy," said researcher at the University's Center for Reproductive Technologies, and author of the study, Elisabetta Messelli.
The researchers conducted about 1,500 interviews, online, and found that nearly 82% of those surveyed said they were not planning to have children due to the Corona pandemic.
The survey was conducted in the third week of the closure, in Italy, and included men and women in a stable marital relationship, for at least one year. The results were finally published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Of the 268 participants, they said they had plans to have a child, before the epidemic; more than a third abandoned their plans, when the epidemic struck. The main causes were concerns about future economic hardships (58%) and potential consequences of pregnancy (58%) from the new coronavirus.
Although about half of those surveyed did not lose their jobs or income, "the fear of imminent and future economic instability prompted those who wanted to become pregnant, to change their position, in 58% of cases."
It is interesting that 140 of the participants (11.5%), most of whom are women, expressed a new desire for parenting, during quarantine, the main reasons being "will to change" (50%) and "need for positivity" (40%); however Only six of 140 have already tried to become pregnant during the shutdown. ”
Study co-investigator Gian Martin Seto says:“ Once again, fear of the consequences of pregnancy, as well as the economic impact on families, may be the reason why couples, who have expressed a desire to Parenting, during the quarantine, did not translate this dream into a concrete attempt. "
Couples are unlikely to change their minds, after the Corona crisis ends, because the uncertainty will linger for an indefinite period.