For every second man under 30, leisure time is more important than marriage and children.

For one in two men under 30, friends, sports, and hobbies are more important than marriage, children, and starting a family. According to a new representative survey by the BAT Leisure Research Institute, 49 percent of young men between 18 and 29 years old don't want to give up their personal freedom and independence in their free time. Their reasoning: "You can live happily without it!" Only one in three young women shares this opinion. Just 30 percent of those under 30 dream of a leisure life without children.
The BAT Institute conducted a representative survey of women and men aged 18 and over across Germany regarding their attitudes towards leisure and family. Striking differences emerged not only among the younger generation but also between unmarried men and women. The vast majority (56%) of all unmarried men enjoy their leisure time without family obligations, guided by the principle: "My personal leisure interests are more important to me than getting married and starting a family.".
In contrast, only one in four unmarried women (26 %) is satisfied with her situation. Three-quarters of all unmarried women would rather be there for their family and "provide for their own children" because this "provides more personal fulfillment in the long run than always thinking only of oneself." Seventy-seven percent of divorced women share this view. For them, marriage, children, and family remain a task "worth living for." Conversely, the majority of divorced men are anti-family. In their experience, family life leaves not enough time for personal leisure activities. Only 42 percent could reconcile themselves to the role of husband.

The danger of a childless leisure culture

„In all Western industrialized countries,“ says Prof. Dr. Horst W. Opaschowski, head of the BAT Leisure Research Institute, „childlessness is increasing, with Germany experiencing the greatest decline in birth rates. This is an inevitable consequence of growing leisure individualism, and often leisure egoism – especially among men. The danger of a leisure culture that tends to be childless is becoming apparent in the future because, in the minds of many Germans, the desire for children and a leisure-oriented lifestyle are largely mutually exclusive.”.
There are fears of significant restrictions on personal leisure activities and thus a loss of enjoyment of life. Many are not willing to give up their freedom so quickly.

Leisure-oriented partnership as a new guiding principle

A shift in central life priorities is evident. More and more people identify with the non-work-related aspects of life and strive for a more active lifestyle during their leisure time. This change in attitudes and behavior also necessitates new approaches in family policy. It must provide convincing concepts demonstrating that family orientation and leisure orientation are no longer mutually exclusive. In a society where work is becoming scarce, new leisure values such as joie de vivre, versatility, and a spirit of adventure are developing alongside traditional work virtues like ambition, performance, and success.
„Seriousness and a sense of duty in family and career,“ says Prof. Dr. Opaschowski, “are increasingly losing their guiding principles. A new model of leisure-oriented partnership within the family could prevent the trend ‚away from marriage‘ from intensifying in the future, and prevent family members from increasingly going their separate ways during leisure time and holidays, whether playing tennis, sailing, taking trips, or sightseeing.“.