How Life Has Changed Among New Parents in Taiwan

Background

Taiwan's ultra-low fertility rate has emerged as a critical demographic challenge, with the 2024 rate standing at 1.11 births per woman, which is the lowest of all nations and substantially below the 2.1 replacement level necessary for population stability. This concerning trend has prompted researchers to investigate why young Taiwanese adults are increasingly reluctant to have children. Two predominant theories attempt to explain this phenomenon: one emphasizes gender inequality within Taiwan's patriarchal society and Confucian value system, while the other focuses on economic constraints facing potential parents. Although the government implementation of family-friendly policies had been expected to reverse this trend, empirical evidence regarding the program’s approach and effectiveness remains limited. This study intended to fill the knowledge gap and examine how gender inequality, economic factors, and social welfare policies influence changes in family satisfaction and overall happiness among new parents in Taiwan, potentially explaining the country's persistent fertility decline.

Method

Using longitudinal data from four waves (2016, 2018, 2020, 2022) of the Panel Study of Family Dynamics (PSFD), we analyzed 355 respondents who had their first child between 2016 and 2022 and participated in all survey waves. We measured changes in family satisfaction and overall happiness by calculating the difference between pre-children measurements (2016) and post-children measurements (2022). Our analysis employed multiple regression models to examine relationships between these changes and two key independent variables: gender inequality (measured by percentage of time spent on housework) and economic status (measured by household income divided by household size). Meanwhile, social policy interventions are measured by whether households have child subsidies and maternity leave. Models controlled for gender, child age, and other baseline demographic information from 2016.

Result

Results revealed that new parents experienced a significant decrease in family satisfaction (t=5.25***), and this decrease was also significantly larger than that which has been observed among respondents without new children during the same period (t=2.90**). Gender inequality emerged as the primary factor affecting well-being outcomes. Respondents with higher housework burdens showed significantly greater decreases in both family satisfaction (t=-2.51*) and overall happiness (t=-3.24***). Economic status in 2022 positively correlated with changes in family satisfaction (t=2.74**) but showed no significant relationship with overall happiness change. Notably, neither child subsidies nor access to maternity leave demonstrated significant associations with changes in family satisfaction or happiness.

Discussion

These findings confirm several concerns that couples may consider when deciding whether to have children. Despite Taiwan's policy efforts to promote gender equality, unequal household responsibilities persist and can negatively impact new parents. Our results provide a bleak assessment of Taiwan's current social welfare interventions aimed at improving family wellbeing and encouraging childbearing. Neither cash benefits nor paternity leave policies appear effective in alleviating the burdens associated with parenthood. We recommend policymakers prioritize initiatives that promote more equitable household collaboration between partners and expand accessible childcare services. These approaches may more effectively moderate the childcare burden, improve family wellbeing among parents, and potentially address Taiwan's critical fertility challenge.