#Sociology

The growing reluctance among millennials to have more than two children has emerged as a defining demographic trend, with new research highlighting the complex social and economic factors influencing modern family size decisions. This movement, closely linked to rising living costs and shifting values, carries important implications for Thailand as its own birthrate stagnates and younger generations reconsider their priorities.

A recent report by Business Insider details how economic uncertainty—notably high childcare costs, student debt, and the shaky job market—has led many millennials in developed countries to cap their families at two children or forego parenthood entirely. Drawing from interviews with parents and leading sociologists, the article illustrates how families struggle to afford additional children, especially in expensive urban centers. According to a cited Pew Research Center study, millennial women average about 2.02 children, aligning with earlier generations numerically but diverging in terms of economic stability and timing. Experts argue that for many in this cohort, achieving even a two-child household often feels like a luxury rather than a default lifestyle (businessinsider.com).

A new wave of research and storytelling is challenging longstanding perceptions of what it means to be a father in 21st-century Thailand, as highlighted by the recently launched book “Modern Fatherhood.” Drawing on the lived experiences of diverse fathers across Asia, the publication captures the evolving landscape of paternity, masculinity, and emotional connection—issues gaining traction in Thai society as traditional gender roles shift and families confront new realities.

For generations, Thai fathers were commonly expected to act as primary breadwinners and authority figures, often keeping emotional distance from their children. But as socioeconomic pressures and cultural influences change, fathers in urban and rural Thailand are increasingly reimagining their roles to include active caregiving, emotional vulnerability, and deeper engagement in their children’s lives. This trend parallels similar transformations in other parts of Asia, brought into the spotlight by the narratives compiled in “Modern Fatherhood,” published by Assouline and covered recently by Tatler Asia.

Christianity, long considered the spiritual anchor of the West, is now undergoing a historic transformation with Asia increasingly taking center stage, according to the latest research and regional insights from scholars and faith leaders. Recent publications and conferences highlight that not only is the Christian population in Asia growing at a robust pace, but the region’s believers are also becoming influential agents in reshaping global Christianity, sending new missionaries westward and offering unique responses to social change and political pressure. The findings mark a pivotal moment for a religion that, for centuries, was driven by Western missionary expansion, but is now witnessing energetic growth, indigenous leadership, and new theological expressions from Seoul, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, and beyond.

A wave of new research is challenging long-held beliefs about the vows that bind couples—especially the promise to remain united “in sickness and in health.” Recent findings, published in the Journal of Marriage and Family and reported by Psychology Today in May 2025, reveal a surprising and deeply concerning trend: women who fall ill in their 50s and early 60s face a far greater risk of divorce than their male counterparts (psychologytoday.com). For Thailand—a country with a rapidly aging population and shifting social values—this revelation strikes at the heart of family resilience and gender equity.

A recently published article in The Atlantic has put a spotlight on what social scientists, educators, and families around the world are increasingly calling the “default parent” problem—a persistent societal bias where mothers are treated as the primary caregiver by default, regardless of the actual family arrangement or parental wishes. Grounded in new research and illustrated by repeated real-life stories, this phenomenon persists in households, schools, clinics, and even airline cabins, with broad implications for work-life balance, gender equality, and family well-being.

A recent study has unveiled that individuals with lower self-awareness, particularly those unable to accurately gauge the correctness of their decisions, exhibit stronger brain reactions to morally charged political issues. Published in the journal Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, the research indicates that moral judgments activate brain regions involved in emotional and cognitive control, drawing attention to the neurological underpinnings of why certain political beliefs are perceived as non-negotiable.

In a world where political polarization seems to intensify by the day, these findings are particularly significant. The study, led by Jean Decety of the University of Chicago, explores the role of moral conviction in political decision-making. It reveals that when people hold moralized beliefs about political issues, they not only decide more swiftly but rely heavily on emotional brain responses. This phenomenon is more pronounced in individuals who struggle with metacognitive sensitivity—the ability to discern right from wrong judgments.