In an era where traditional family dynamics are rapidly evolving, the question of whether parenthood remains a core element of personal fulfillment among young adults is gaining renewed importance. A pioneering study conducted by Luppi, Rosina, and Testa, published in the journal Genus, delves into this very subject by analyzing the attitudes of Italian young adults towards parenthood and its influence on their perception of self-fulfillment. The findings of the research provide significant insights into how cultural, societal, and individual factors interplay to shape contemporary views on having children, making it a noteworthy contribution to demographic, sociological, and psychological scholarship.
Parenthood has long been considered a pivotal milestone in the journey of adult life, traditionally associated with self-fulfillment, social continuity, and identity construction. However, in recent decades, many Western societies, including Italy, have witnessed declining fertility rates, delayed parenting, and an increasing number of individuals opting to remain childfree. This demographical shift raises important questions about whether the intrinsic value attached to having children is diminishing among younger generations or if it persists in different, perhaps more nuanced, forms. The study by Luppi et al. undertakes this complex investigation, focusing specifically on a cohort of Italian young adults, a group navigating economic uncertainty, evolving gender roles, and shifting cultural expectations.
Employing a comprehensive methodological framework, including structured surveys and qualitative interviews, the study explores how young Italians interpret the concept of parenthood and its connection to personal fulfillment. The researchers interrogate traditional narratives that equate having children with achieving a meaningful life, while also considering contemporary perspectives that highlight autonomy, career development, and lifestyle preferences as alternative sources of self-fulfillment. Importantly, the study situates these attitudes within Italy’s unique socio-economic context, marked by prolonged youth unemployment, significant gender role debates, and strong familial ties.
One of the most striking findings reveals a generational ambivalence towards parenthood. While a substantial proportion of the surveyed young adults acknowledge the emotional and existential significance of having children, many simultaneously express concerns about the practical and financial challenges associated with raising a family. This ambivalence manifests as a conflict between aspirational desires and perceived realities, where parenthood is idealized but not necessarily pursued. The research meticulously traces how economic precarity, housing instability, and insufficient institutional support contribute to a delay or redefinition of parenthood as a project.
Further deepening the complexity, the study addresses the gendered dimensions of parental self-fulfillment. Italian young men and women often hold divergent views shaped by traditional gender norms as well as modern egalitarian ideals. Women, in particular, navigate the tension between societal expectations of motherhood and the pursuit of professional or personal ambitions. This dual pressure results in nuanced attitudes toward parenthood, where some women consider it a necessary but challenging route to fulfillment, while others see alternative pathways as equally valid or even preferable.
The role of family and social networks emerges as another critical factor influencing attitudes toward parenthood. Unlike many other European countries, Italian family bonds remain remarkably strong, with intergenerational support playing a vital role in facilitating childrearing. The study highlights how these support structures are both a source of encouragement and pressure, intertwining the personal decision to have children with broader familial expectations. Moreover, the research critiques how normative discourse about parenthood is deployed within these networks to either reinforce or challenge individual choices.
Significantly, Luppi and colleagues explore how cultural narratives, media representations, and societal discourse shape young adults’ internalized beliefs about parenthood and self-fulfillment. They argue that the symbolic meaning attached to having children is not static but is continuously renegotiated through exposure to diverse value systems. For some young Italians, parenthood remains synonymous with legacy and identity continuity, whereas others increasingly embrace childlessness or alternative forms of family as valid expressions of personal fulfillment.
The research also touches upon the psychological dimensions of choosing or foregoing parenthood. The researchers emphasize the emotional calculus involved, where the longing for connection, purpose, and emotional intimacy is weighed against anticipated sacrifices and lifestyle alterations. This psychological negotiation is shown to be profoundly gendered and sensitive to individual biographies, making generalized assumptions about the desirability of parenthood inadequate to capture the lived experience of young adults today.
Interestingly, the study situates its findings within the broader European demographic trends to underline both commonalities and singularities. Italy exemplifies a country where the delay in family formation and declining fertility coexist with persistent cultural valorization of family life. The authors propose that policymakers and social scientists must consider this intricate interplay when designing family support policies or interpreting census data, as simplistic birthrate metrics may obscure deeper social undercurrents regarding fertility decisions and self-fulfillment.
The implications of this study extend beyond academic discourse, resonating with public debates on how societies value family, work-life balance, and individual autonomy. Recognizing that parenthood is neither inevitable nor universally experienced as fulfilling prompts a reconsideration of social norms and institutional frameworks. The researchers advocate for policies that accommodate diverse life choices, from parenthood to alternative family models, thereby fostering environments where young adults can pursue fulfillment on their terms without stigma or economic penalty.
Moreover, the study draws attention to the importance of redesigning social support systems to alleviate the structural barriers currently deterring young Italians from early and voluntary parenthood. Recommendations include enhancing childcare services, promoting job security for young workers, and incentivizing paternity leave uptake to rebalance gender expectations around caregiving. Such policy measures would not only facilitate the compatibility of parenthood with self-fulfillment aspirations but also contribute to societal demographic vitality.
As the article progresses, it unpacks the nuanced interrelations between self-fulfillment and parenthood by nuanced demographic subgroups, such as urban versus rural populations, and different socio-economic classes. These intersections reveal heterogeneity in how young adults conceptualize and experience parenthood, further underscoring the inadequacy of mono-dimensional analyses. The authors call for more intersectional approaches in future research to unravel these complexities.
Ethical considerations also surface in the discourse, particularly regarding respecting individual autonomy while appreciating the cultural legacies shaping familial decisions. The authors caution against normative judgments that either valorize childbearing as a universal good or stigmatize childfree lifestyles. Instead, they encourage celebrating pluralism in life choices as a hallmark of contemporary societies, emphasizing that self-fulfillment is a deeply personal and context-dependent phenomenon.
In conclusion, the work of Luppi, Rosina, and Testa enriches our understanding of the evolving relationship between parenthood and self-fulfillment in Italy’s younger generations, a microcosm of wider global shifts. By integrating demographic data, sociological theory, and personal narratives, their research paints a comprehensive and textured portrait of how young adults negotiate the meaning and value of having children in a changing world. This study not only challenges longstanding assumptions but also informs policy and public debate, heralding a more inclusive conception of family and fulfillment in the 21st century.
As societies continue to grapple with demographic aging, economic challenges, and cultural transformations, insights like these become increasingly valuable. They remind us that parenthood remains a potent, albeit dynamically redefined, source of identity and meaning for many, while simultaneously existing alongside a multiplicity of life pathways that equally contribute to the richness of human experience.
Subject of Research: The relationship between parenthood and self-fulfillment among young adults in Italy.
Article Title: Parenthood and self-fulfilment: does having children matter to Italian young-adults?
Article References:
Luppi, F., Rosina, A. & Testa, M.R. Parenthood and self-fulfilment: does having children matter to Italian young-adults?. Genus 81, 31 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41118-025-00272-1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41118-025-00272-1
Image Credits: AI Generated
