Why People Are Choosing Not to Have Kids: What the Research Says About Family, Happiness, and Meaning | Episode 79
Why People Are Choosing Not to Have Kids: What the Research Says About Family, Happiness, and Meaning | Episode 79  
Podcast: The Lizzy Jensen Show
Published On: Tue Jun 16 2026
Description: ⭐️ Join the conversation over on Instagram @thelizzyjensenshowhttps://www.instagram.com/thelizzyjensenshow?igsh=dmh3aXN0ejVnb25z&utm_source=qr☎️ Have a question for Lizzy? Call or text: 801-477-0699. You might hear your question answered on a future episode of The Lizzy Jensen Show!This Episode:Episode 79 | Why People Are Choosing Not to Have Kids: What the Research Says About Family, Happiness, and MeaningWhat if one of the biggest ideas modern culture has sold us about happiness is actually wrong?In this episode, Lizzy sits down with Jenet Erickson to unpack one of the biggest cultural shifts happening right now: fewer people are getting married, fewer people are having children, and more people feel lonely, disconnected, and unsure of their purpose.But here’s the surprising part: the research tells a very different story than what we’re hearing online.They talk about:– Why birth rates are declining around the world– Why you can’t simply pay people to have kids (and why it hasn’t worked)– What actually predicts long-term happiness and fulfillment– Why modern culture may be leading women away from what they want most– The real impact of marriage and motherhood on women– Why relationships, not independence, are at the center of a meaningful lifeThis isn’t a surface-level conversation. It’s a deep, honest look at what we’ve been told… and what might actually be true.🔗 Jenet’s Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/jenet.erickson/?hl=en🔗 Learn more about the unique influence of mothers and fathers - It Takes Two:https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/it-takes-two____________________Topics & Timestamps:00:00 — Cultural Shift Happening03:00 — Why Birth Rates Drop08:00 — Industrialization Impact14:00 — Career vs Family20:00 — Individualism Rise27:00 — Loneliness Epidemic34:00 — What Research Shows42:00 — Motherhood + Meaning52:00 — What Actually MattersAbout The Lizzy Jensen Show:The Lizzy Jensen show has a simple mission to empower you with the confidence and courage to live your most beautiful and abundant life. Join me weekly as I bring in friends and experts to give you the takeaways you need to help you navigate the complex journey of womanhood. The world is hungry for your love, your heart, your voice and your goodness. Lean in with me as we learn to give our highest contributions to the world, outside and inside our own homes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.