The Influence of Men’s Religious Identity on Fatherhood Institute Formation

Abstract

Introduction. Scientific study of religious aspect of fatherhood is actual due to the significance of the man’s role in sustainability of parental and family relations in conditions of a demographic crisis. The aim of the article is to analyze a range of reproductive, generative and marital behavior of men defined by their religious identification as a factor that influences the formation of a family image that is shared in traditional religions. Materials and Methods. Empirical basis of the study includes data of social survey held by authors in two subjects of Russian Federation – in the Republic of Tatarstan and Vologda Region. The object of the study – men at the age of 18‒49, the sample – 1 353 men. Use of comparative, economic-statistical and factor methods of analysis allowed to define the level of the influence of men’s religious identity on their generative behavior. Results. The calculation of average values has defined comparative superiority of the value of the family in comparison with the value of work in all subgroups of the surveyed men, regardless of their involvement in the religious context, however, among religious men the family in the structure of life values is more vivid. Some peculiarities of the role distribution in families, expectations towards the number of children in the family, orientation towards upbringing and complicity in the growing up of children in the family, determination of the image of a father and correspondingly behavior of the respondents were determined. Men’s religious identity influences their desire to have bigger number of children: Christians tend to have two children while Muslims want to have more than two children. The percentage of men who desire to become a father of many children is less among those who don’t believe in God. Discussion and Conclusion. The study of the influence of men’s religious identity on generative behavior allowed to reveal factors causing formation of reproductive behavior. This data will help to work out measures to increase the birth rate into account the role of fatherhood institute and confessional identity of a man. Results of the research can be used in the process of developing measures for the implementation of demographic and family policy.