More Americans are choosing to live a childfree life, study finds

Dogs can fulfill our need to nurture

Just as birth rates decline in many wealthy and developed nations, dog parenting is remaining steady and even gaining in popularity. Up to half of households in Europe and 66 percent of homes in the United States have at least one dog and these pets are often regarded as a family member or “fur baby.”  To dig into what this shift says about our society, researchers from Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary conducted a literature review …

More Americans are choosing to live a childfree life, study finds

A new study reveals a growing number of Americans are choosing not to have kids – highlighting a growing shift in family planning.

As the world’s birth rate declines, dog ownership is becoming increasingly popular. The phenomenon of “furry children” sheds new light on the concept of family and parenting. How does this phenomenon shape our societies and what does it say about our emotional needs? Scientists at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest have been tracking these changes, investigating how and why our relationships with pets are evolving.