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The formation of a family continues to be a "chimera" for most young people, according to the barometer. 83 % of respondents under 45 think that there are greater difficulties than in previous generations. to do so.
The percentage is high. And when this age group was asked about their priorities for the next five years, the following stand out in this order: to prosper professionally (89 %), to further their studies (62 %), and to travel and learn about other cultures (59 %), ahead of starting a family, which only 26.3 percent, or one in four, plan to do so.
Twelve months ago, this percentage was 40 percent, a decrease of almost 14 percent, according to fieldwork by the consulting firm GAD3first in a pandemic situation.
María José Olestigeneral director of the foundation The Family Watch, think-tank of family studies, has stated that These data explain, in part, the reasons for the profound demographic crisis affecting our country, something that, together with the current pandemic situation and its economic consequences, does not predict that it will change in the coming years".".
The youth perspective may have something to do with another piece of information from the barometer: a large majority of respondents (85 %) say that the economic situation in Spain is bad. On the other hand, the loss of purchasing power affects half of Spanish families (50 %) but especially those who have lost their jobs (72 %). Despite the difficulties resulting from the pandemic, the majority of families (56 %) say that they have provided help to family, friends and NGOs during this time.
In response to several questions, María José Olesti pointed out that "Maternity is not given the importance it has in social, political and labor life... On the contrary, women who want to be mothers are penalized. It is necessary to continue with the aids in social policies, in which we are at the bottom in Europe".
Reconciliation, a pending issue
One of the questions in the survey asked how easy it is for them to reconcile their work with their personal and family life. 17.8 percent answered "a lot", 43.9 "quite a bit"and 29.4 percent "little", percentages quite similar to those of the previous year. Sara Morais, research director at GAD3recalled that every year the fertility rate in Spain is reduced, which stood at 1.24 in 2019. Two years earlier, in 2017, the rate was 1.3, according to official data.
Internet and minors
Another of the issues of most concern to families, according to The Family WatchThe main issues that the company is concerned about are Internet use, access to gambling and adult content, such as pornography, and the styles and behaviors of minors on the Internet.
Despite recent measures promoted by both the gaming industry and the authorities, almost 9 out of 10 households still consider that minors have very easy access to online gambling and video games.
The study indicates that 8 out of 10 households consider that "controls" what minors view on the network, and 78 % establish rules for use and schedules. 65 % of respondents acknowledge that adult content has been accessed during the pandemic months.
An important measure for 74 % of the surveyed families would be that when contracting an Internet lineThe company has been asking operators and political parties for years to limit access to certain content (pornography, online games, etc.), something it has been requesting from both operators and political parties"..
In his opinion, "It would be a quick and easy way for parents to protect their children and prevent them from accessing content that does nothing to help their development as people, without having a high level of knowledge of the Internet. In countries such as France and Italy it has already been implemented and Spain should follow the same path", they say.
