YOUTH: RELATIONSHIPS AND PARENTHOOD

What does a youth want as far as Relationship and Parenthood is concerned? Several narratives on What young people want and what shapes their decisions about relationships and parenthood have been going on influenced by personal or peer experiences. If Youth of today is confused, insecure or irresponsible has been a matter of debate for last many years now. On youth shying away from parenthood, majority of non-youth age group seniors, have opinion of non-willingness to carry responsibility as prominent reason. But that does not hold true. Youth want to form family but unsure on many associated aspects.

Similarly, recent superficial trends showing non inclination towards getting married need detailed scientific analysis. Recent report released by United Nations Population Fund, defy this narrative and show that over two thirds of respondents from 73 countries would like to marry, either directly or after cohabitation. The findings prove that despite changing demographic patterns, young people across the world continue to value relationships, marriage, and parenthood. Most respondents aspire to stable partnerships and wish to become parents. However, their ability to achieve these aspirations has strong influence of external circumstances rather than personal preferences alone. Financial insecurity, unstable employment, rising housing costs, lack of suitable partners and broader economic uncertainty consistently appear as the most significant barriers preventing young adults from achieving their desired family life. About partnerships, marriage continues to be the preferred living arrangement for most respondents. More than two-thirds ideally wish to marry, either before or after cohabitation. Nevertheless, many respondents are still unable to realize these aspirations. Among respondents aged 25–39 years who ideally wish to marry or live with a partner, approximately onequarter are currently single and not dating. Financial security is the single most important prerequisite for entering a partnership, while economic and housing constraints are the most often reported barriers. Personal networks, educational institutions, workplaces, and online platforms are still the primary ways through which young adults look for or meet partners.

Data shows that more than one fifth of Youth in Latin American and Caribbean Countries followed by those in Asia and Pacific countries preferred being single. Those in Arab states have definite preference to getting married and then living together in contrast to youth of Western Europe, Australia, USA and Canada followed by those from Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean where preferred choice goes to living with a partner, followed later by marriage. Surprisingly, the lowest percentage (18.7%) of those willing to get married before living together are from Latin America and the Caribbean. Directly getting married has preference over living with a partner, followed by marriage in larger part of the world. Globally, almost equal number of youths are inclined to getting married or live-in relationship followed by marriage.

Economies have direct impact over preference to get directly married or living with partner followed by marriage. More than half of the youth from Low or Lower Middle-Income countries prefer getting directly married against a quarter of those from High Income Countries. This trend of living first, marrying later is shifting gradually to majority of the countries except Arab states. Youth consider it to be a transitional stage towards more permanent partnerships rather than alternatives to marriage, as commonly believed. There are several thoughts on merits and demerits of having marriage later to living together with partner. Culturally also it does not hold universal acceptance. Data from Arab states does show higher percentage of formal relationship but a section of researchers have doubts on validity considering the social system.

The report has addressed challenges faced by several countries such as profound demographic changes characterized by declining fertility rates, delayed marriage, delayed family formation, and changing partnership patterns. According to the report, approximately two-thirds of the world's population now lives in countries or territories where the total fertility rate has fallen below 2.1 children per woman, the level associated with keeping a stable population size. This demographic transition does not limit to highincome countries but spreads across middleincome countries, while fertility continues to decline even in countries where birth rates are still relatively high. Decrease in fertility rate has set an alarm to act now.

Preference of youth to Parenthood, also have several views. The study reveals wide variation on preferences and beliefs. Across all regional groupings, respondents find two children as the ideal family size, although larger ideal family sizes are more common in West and Central Africa and East and Southern Africa. Importantly, the average actual number of children among respondents aged 35–39 years is still consistently lower than the average ideal family size reported by respondents aged 18–39 years, showing that many young adults are unable to achieve their preferred family size. Childbearing has direct link to the economic status. One fifth of Youth from High Income Countries either do not want a child or just a single against preference to have 4-5 children amongst youth from African countries. There are several factors to influence this important life decision.

According to the UNFPA research, these differences between reproductive intentions and actual outcomes were attributable to external constraints rather than individual preferences. The principal constraints found had economic insecurity at the top. Growing concern over instability in partnerships and relationships also acts as a barrier to family formation. Particularly in low or low middle income countries availability and accessibility to health services does influence reproductive decisions. Inadequate access to reproductive health services also inhibited reproductive decision. In major part of the world Unequal distribution of family care responsibilities does exist. Mostly, it is woman who takes care of family right from pregnancy till grooming of child.

Although many respondents believed that opportunities exist, the survey simultaneously found widespread concern about inequality. Young people perceive considerable disparities between themselves and others in terms of access to education, employment, income, and broader life opportunities. Consequently, optimism about personal opportunities coexists with strong awareness of unequal social conditions.

Economic circumstances have intricate link with decisions about both partnership formation and fertility aspirations. Financial insecurity is not simply an inconvenience but a major factor influencing whether respondents believe they are ready to have children.

It should be endeavoured to just not to make those choices for young people, but to help ensure they have the freedom, opportunities, and support to make them for themselves. Let young people help to shape their decisions about relationships and parenthood.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Dr Vivek S Agrawal, The writer is specialist on Urban Health and Environment