Scottish Government
type: Organization
contact point: ContactPoint
  contact type: customer service

attitudes-to-family-formation-in-scotland-linked-data.csv
type: DataDownload
comment: 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.
dictionary: Column
  column: Relationship Status
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Tenure
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Self Reported Financial Circumstances
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: T02PersonallyWhat Do You Think Would Be The Ideal Number Of Children For You To Have Had During Your Lifetime
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyName
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Ns Sec
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Age
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Total Number Of Children Expect To Have
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: DateCode
  type: int
dictionary: Column
  column: Measurement
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyCode
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Sex
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Value
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Rural Classification
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: T05Which Of The Following Are The Main Reasons You Do Not Think You Will HaveAny MoreChildren
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: 4 Fold Reseas Classification
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: T03How ManyMoreChildren In Total Do You Think You Will End Up Having During Your Lifetime
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyType
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: T04Total Number Of Children Expect To Have
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: T01How Many Children Do You Currently Have
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Units
  type: text
description: Data file for Attitudes to family formation in Scotland linked data
encoding format: CSV

Attitudes to family formation in Scotland linked data
type: Dataset
accuracy: 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.
comment: 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.
completeness: 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)
confidentiality: 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.
consistency: 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.
geographical coverage: S92
license id: uk-ogl
quality management: Full report available [here](http://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805251477).
reference period: PeriodOfTime
  end date: 2021-01-01T00:00:00
  start date: 2021-01-01T00:00:00
timeliness: Fieldwork ran from 18 November 2021 until 3 December 2022.
uniqueness: Not assessed
update frequency: annual
validity: 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.
will be updated: false
contact point: ContactPoint
date modified: 2026-08-13T09:48:44.485450
date published: 2026-08-13T09:47:34.516104
description: 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?
included in data catalog: CKAN
keywords: Population
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/