University of Tokyo

Abstract
Survey Number 0885
Survey Title Online Survey of Attitudes toward the Declining Birthrate and Married Couples' Living Environments, 2012
Depositor Economic and Social Research Institute, Cabinet Office, The Government of Japan
Restriction of Use For detailed information, please refer to 'For Data Users' on the SSJDA website.

- Apply to SSJDA. SSJDA's approval is required.
Educational Purpose Available for both research and instructional purposes.
Period of Data Use Permission One year
Access to Datasets Download
SSJDA Data Analysis Not available
Summary In our country, birth rates have been declining for a long time. It has been shown that low marriage rates contribute to this, but the number of children born to married couples has also been on the decline in recent years. It is believed that lifestyle environments, economic situations, attitudes, and surrounding values held by couples are behind this trend. As a result of our interest in this issue—and in order to perform an analysis of child-rearing couples that may serve as a basic reference through which declining birthrates may be examined—we carried out a survey of married individuals in their 20s to 40s about their lifestyle environments, husband/wife attitudes, and values. The following three points are the special characteristics of the survey.
(1) In order to analyze the factors thought to be related to the decline in couple child rearing and desire to have children, we have posed a variety of different questions.
(2) Because our sample scale includes 10,000 people, it is possible to analyze our data across diverse cuts and categories.
(3) Because we have posed questions to our survey participants regarding the situation of their spouses, we can compare the attitudes of husbands and wives and therefore perform comparative analyses of men and women that have not been performed frequently in the past.
Data Type quantitative research: micro data
Universe Married individuals in their 20s to 40s
Unit of Observation Individual
Sample Size Valid responses 10,000 people (men and women, 5,000 each)
Date of Collection 2012-10-19 ~ 2012-11-11
2012/10/19-11/11
Time Period 2012 ~ 2012
Spatial Unit Japan
Japan
Sampling Procedure Non-probability: Quota
Age (Six categories: 20-24 years,25-29 years,30-34 years,35-39 years,40-44 years,45-49 years) , Gathered individuals across the twelve aforementioned age and gender categories in accordance with population composition ratios given by the 2010 census.
Mode of Data Collection Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)
Internet web survey using monitors registered to Spire, Inc., the company responsible for carrying out the survey.
Investigator Economic and Social Research Institute, Cabinet Office, The Government of Japan, survey carried out by Spire, Inc.
DOI 10.34500/SSJDA.0885
Sponsors (Funds)
Related Publications (by the Investigator) Please refer to the abstract in Japanese.
Related Publications (based on Secondary Analysis) List of related publications (based on Secondary Analysis)
Documentation [Questionnaire]
Major Survey Items (1) Face items
Gender, marital status, age, first marriage/remarriage, area of residence, highest level of educational attainment, attributes of spouse (age/whether residing in the same household/whether mother and father are residing in the same household/highest level of educational attainment), etc.

(2) Marriage
Age at which you met, age at which you got married, how you met, how you got married, international marriage, etc.

(3) Employment/financial/cohabitation situation of you two as a couple
Health status of husband and wife, employment type of husband and wife (by date)/industry, experience of leaving or changing job due to marriage/pregnancy/intentions to become employed/income/outlook on salary 5 years from now/work hours/childcare and work-life balance support environment at your workplace, housing, length of residence, etc.

(4) Childbirth/parenting
Number of children, age of eldest/youngest children, pregnancy, number of children you had before remarriage, ideal and planned number of children you will have, experience with infertility treatments, experience taking care of small children before getting married, values regarding having children, use of childcare leave, extent to which you want your children to pursue higher education, expectations for your children, etc.

(5) Understanding of the situation regarding childcare support from your family/neighbors
Person you consult about childcare, childcare support from your parents, childcare support from people other than your parents, use of neighborhood childcare support services, burdens/worries of childcare, etc.

(6) Shared time as a couple, division of housework/childcare
Shared hobbies, does your spouse listen to your worries and troubles, conversational / behavioral situation (different items), sharing a bedroom, division of housework, division of childcare responsibilities, various types of satisfaction (with your spouse, with your child's life, with your married life), distribution of household income and expenditure, etc.

(7) Values and normative consciousness regarding family
Thoughts on marriage and child rearing (different items), influence of the Great East Japan Earthquake (home life, workplace response to energy saving, thoughts of your family), etc.

*For details on survey items, please refer to the questionnaire.
Date of Release 2014/03/12
Topics in CESSDA Click here for details

Working conditions
Family life and marriage
Social behaviour and attitudes
Topics in SSJDA Society/Culture
Version 1 : 2014-03-12
Notes for Users Variable and value labels are written in Japanese.