Arabic version: مزيد من الرجال الأستراليين يختارون عدم الإنجاب

According to ABC News, about 15 per cent of Australian men say they do not want children, up from 11 per cent in 2005, based on the 2025 Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey. Research into voluntary childlessness has largely focused on women, but Australian researchers are examining why some men decide fatherhood is not for them.

Ian, a 48-year-old from Adelaide/Tarntanya, says he first thought having children was not for him when he was about 13, after his father moved out. He says he did not want to repeat his father’s mistakes and describes himself as a “wanderer” who wanted to drift through the world. Ian kept an open mind about changing his decision, but says that never happened. He met his wife, who shared his mindset, 16 years ago, and says he is content being a dog owner.

Imogene Smith, a clinical psychologist and lecturer at The Cairnmillar Institute, says family of origin was a common reason given by child-free men in her surveys. Some participants said fatherhood did not appeal to them, while others were affected by difficult relationships with their fathers or by seeing how hard parenting was for families with many children. Dr Smith says some men also wanted to be “alternative” and did not want to follow the norm.

Men in Dr Smith’s research also raised fears about the climate and political environment, inheritable mental and physical health conditions, and finances. Despite her sample being largely middle class and professional, many said they could not see how they could afford a larger house for a child. Others were influenced by watching friends and relatives raise children and observing the limited free time that can come with parenting.

Tom Denson, a professor in the School of Psychology at UNSW, co-authored research published earlier this year on negative bias toward child-free people. It found child-free men experienced less bias than child-free women for the same decision, with men rated higher in interpersonal warmth. Dr Smith says the men in her study were not overly concerned about judgement and often spoke about contributing to society through charity, donations or work with young people.