The relationship of migration behavior with marital status and the number of children in the family

Abstract

Based on the analysis of the database of the 30th round of the Russian Monitoring of the Economic Situation and Health of the Population (Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey – HSE) study in 2021, the relationship between marital status and the children number of men and women in reproductive age with their migration behavior is studied. Migrants are less likely to remain single and childless, but more likely to have three or more children than local natives. These differences are explained, so the author, by the fact that people who have independently changed their place of residence differ from people who live where they were born, more willing to face difficulties related both to living conditions adapting in a new place, and to creating, increasing and maintaining a family. The differences between migrants and natives are greater among men than women. In addition, data from a survey of both spouses in more than 1,200 families conducted by the Department of Family Sociology and Demography of the Faculty of Sociology of Lomonosov Moscow State University 2018–2019 study show that men whose parents had more than two children are much more likely to have three or more children themselves than women who grew up in the families of the same size. Therefore, demographic policy measures should be applied to increase the birth rate what can affect not only mothers, but fathers as well. It is necessary to take into account the data of sociological studies on the conditions necessary for the birth of children, according to both spouses, and not only women. Schools and other educational institutions should form an active life position among children, adolescents and young people, the ability to overcome difficulties, including those in family life necessary for the society to survive and develop.