대학생의 주관적 사회계층 인식이 결혼 및 출산의향에 미치는 영향

Effects of Subjective Socioeconomic Status on Marriage and Fertility Intention among College Students: The Mediating Effect of Subjective Well-being

Currently, Korea’s total fertility rate has declined below 1.00 and the problem of low fertility is intensifying. This study examined the effects of subjective socioeconomic status on marriage intention and fertility intention, focusing on young people in early adulthood that will determine the fertility rate. Also, this study investigated whether subjective well-being mediates the effects of subjective socioeconomic status on the marriage and fertility intention. Data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics and hierarchical regression analysis. The major findings of this study are as follows: First, college students showed general levels of subjective socioeconomic status and the levels of subjective well-being, marriage intention and fertility intention was slightly higher than normal level. Second, after controlling for college students’ sociodemographic characteristics, subjective socioeconomic status was positively related to marriage and fertility intention. Finally, the level of subjective well-being partly mediated between the subjective socioeconomic status and marriage intention and fertility intention. It was found that the higher the self-perceived social class of university students, the higher is their tendency to evaluate their lives positively, and eventually, the greater is their intention to marry and to give birth to children. Based on the above results, this study emphasized the need for policies to improve young people’s quality of life and to encourage marriage and fertility intention.