Supporting tables for the exploration of attitudes to family formation and ideal family size in Scotland. Insights in family planning and resettlement intentions: A study for Scottish Government by ScotCen Social Research.
Data file for Attitudes to family formation in Scotland linked data
T02PersonallyWhat Do You Think Would Be The Ideal Number Of Children For You To Have Had During Your Lifetime
T05Which Of The Following Are The Main Reasons You Do Not Think You Will HaveAny MoreChildren
T03How ManyMoreChildren In Total Do You Think You Will End Up Having During Your Lifetime
T04Total Number Of Children Expect To Have
T01How Many Children Do You Currently Have
A quantitative survey ran from 18 November 2021 until 3 December 2022, involving the collection of information from a random sample of the adult population in Scotland (total sample size 1,144). Although the sample was representative of and weighted according to the population of Scotland, it should be noted that the sample sizes were small for people living on islands and the youngest age group (18-29). In some instances, responses of these groups were suppressed due to the small sample size.
Tables available [here](https://statistics.gov.scot/data/attitudes-to-family-formation-in-scotland-data-tables). Full report available [here](http://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805251477)
The ScotCen Panel operates in compliance with GDPR, and the fieldwork design is reviewed by NatCen's internal Research Ethics Committee on an annual basis. While the research team at NatCen will have access to detailed personal information of Panel members as part of the study's operation, we will provide a pseudonymised dataset to Scottish Government with all directly identifiable information dropped. In addition, the data will be reviewed for disclosure risk, with categories collapsed as necessary (for example, providing age bands rather than precise age). In particular, attention will be paid to the disclosure risk of including two relatively detailed geographical variables, and measures required to limit that risk.
The most recent source available on ideal family size was a fertility module commissioned in the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey (SSAS) of 2005. A nationally representative sample of child-bearing age (N=781) were asked about their ideals and expectations with regard to childbearing. Respondents said that their average ideal family size in Scotland was 2.48 children. In practice the average number of children reported by respondents at the time asked was 1.24, while the TFR in Scotland in 2005 was 1.62. While it is not possible to make robust direct comparisons between 2005 and 2021 data, the data can help to contextualise the recent findings within this report.
Full report available [here](http://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805251477).
Fieldwork ran from 18 November 2021 until 3 December 2022.
Full report available [here](http://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805251477) Research objectives were: Investigate general attitudes around having children in Scotland and their drivers; Explore views on the barriers that people may face when planning to have children; Explore enablers at the country, societal and family-level to enable people to reach their ideal family size; Explore participants' views on their ideal family size, and how this relates to the size of family that they either expect to have or already have; Explore how attitudes towards recent trends, such as climate change, delayed parenthood, and Covid-19, relate to decisions to having children; and Explore attitudes to and reasons for not having children.
Supporting linked data for the exploration of attitudes to family formation and ideal family size in Scotland, publication [here](http://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805251477) Insights in family planning and resettlement intentions A study for Scottish Government by ScotCen Social Research Fieldwork period: 18th November - 19th December 2021 Tables index: T01. How many children do you currently have? T02. Personally, what do you think would be the ideal number of children for you to have had during your lifetime? T03. How many (more) children in total do you think you will end up having during your lifetime? T04. Total number of children expect to have? T05. Which of the following are the main reasons you do not think you will have (any more) children?
Attitudes to family formation in Scotland linked data