Researchers from Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary have established a link between rising dog ownership and declining birth rates, suggesting that societal attitudes toward motherhood are shifting. Dog owners often exhibit negative perceptions of parenting, which may deter them from having children. Additionally, time, energy, and financial constraints associated with pet ownership can further dissuade individuals from pursuing human parenthood. While there is a rising preference for pets over children, the relationship between the two is complex and multifaceted, reflecting deeper societal changes in attitudes towards family and companionship.
Some studies suggest that dog owners indeed have more negative views of motherhood, and mothers who own dogs find parenting more burdensome, which could reduce their willingness to have more children.
More U.S. households are now homes to dogs than kids. And, a study out of Hungary showed that 19% of childless dog owners, and 10% of owners with children, considered their dog more important than any human life.
Collection
[
|
...
]