Adolescents with Disabilities as a Demographic Resource: An Analysis of Family and Reproductive Attitudes

This article presents the results of a study on the family and reproductive attitudes among young adults with disabilities aged 15–17. The aim of the study was to assess the demographic potential of this population. The research focused on the attitudes towards starting a family, having children and how these attitudes change during schooling. The hypothesis of the study is that these attitudes are influenced by factors other than the disability itself. Data was collected in 8 federal districts of Russia in 2019 using an online survey (N=800) and showed that most young people with disabilities want to start a family and have children. They also have more stable attitudes towards family formation and less variable attitudes towards parenthood. There was a relationship between these attitudes and other factors such as education, health status and support from others. The severity of disability did not affect these attitudes, but it was associated with more positive attitudes towards parenting in some cases. This study is novel because it is the first to show that a significant number of young people with disability are interested in starting a family. The findings can be used to develop strategies for supporting and promoting the reproductive potential among people with disabilities.