Comparing US childfree adults’ and parents’ networks of close relationships: Size and composition

Childfree adults do not have or want children. Although they often experience social stigma and are subject to negative stereotypes, few studies have directly examined childfree adults’ social networks. In this study, we examine whether childfree adults’ networks of close relationships differ in size and composition from those of parents. Using representative egocentric network data in the United States from the CHIP50-NET survey, we tested three pre-registered hypotheses regarding the size and composition of 2,928 childfree adults’ and 12,863 parents’ networks. Compared to parents, childfree adults had significantly smaller networks, especially in middle age. Additionally, on average, a minority (44%) of childfree adults’ close relationships were with parents, while a majority (62%) of parents’ close relationships were with other parents. The differences between childfree adults and parents in network size and composition are modest, but call for further research on this gap’s implications for childfree adults’ well-being and risk of lower social support.