A workshop addresses the challenges of raising a family in the 21st century
Researchers from Hungary and the University have presented data young people's perceptions of marriage and family.
PhotoManuelCastells/Participants in the workshop of family formation in the 21st century," held at the University of Navarra.
19 | 12 | 2025
What do millennials and Generation Z think about the possibility of getting married and starting a family? To answer this question, the research Relations Lab (FareLAB) research group the School Education Psychology organized the workshop Challenges of family formation in the 21st century,"a space for interdisciplinary dialogue on the challenges training the 21st century. Over the course of six sessions, the workshop addressed the social and cultural trends that influence, both positively and negatively, the younger generations when it comes to starting a family.
For Sonia Rivas, professor at the School organizer of the event, valuing the family is vital because "strengthening the family means strengthening society, as it is the main creator of social capital." The professor gave the opening session entitled "Building Bridges: Interdisciplinary Dialogue among Professionals for Stronger Family Relations."
Researchers from Hungary's Youth Research Center, which conducts annual surveys of Hungarian youth between the ages of 15 and 39, also participated in the event. Levente Székely, director center, presented the discussion paper , Fears, and Family: Young People's Problem Map and Perspectives on the Future"; and Georgina Kiss-Kozma, deputy director, gave a presentation entitled "Carry the Fire — or Why Do We Need Children?" According to data Youth Research Center, the main concern among young people is the uncertainty and unpredictability of the future. agreement the security perception index, the proportion of people who feel that their security is at risk, even if they do not know the cause, has doubled. This increase is more acute among adolescents. "For young people, family remains important, but the future and mental health come first," said Székely.
Likewise, researchers from group Youth in transitiongroup at the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) also presented the results of their research the session 'Young People in Transition to Adulthood: Some Reflections After 5 Years of Research'. Javier García Manglano, group researcher , explained that the unwritten rules of the path to adulthood have become blurred today. "The message is 'enjoy your youth and your freedom,' and they end up in their thirties without direction, without role models, and with an existential crisis," lamented García Manglano. According to their surveys of more than 1,200 young people, the vision of what it means to be an adult is pessimistic and individualistic. In addition, they have found that the idea of marriage is not attractive; it is seen as a bureaucratic formality. However, 80% do want to have a partner and children with them. "The way you ask questions affects the answers," observed Cecilia Serrano, a researcher at the ICS, since marriage is seen as something negative, but not the idea of a stable partner with whom to start a family.
On the other hand, Norbert Filemon, director research Axioma Center (Hungary), contributed with his discussion paper The Challenges Ahead for the Family: a Christian, Integrative Perspective. discussion paper The expert analyzed current Hungarian legislation on the family in a context that he described as "between accelerated secularization and ambitious state policy." Since 2010, the country has promoted a comprehensive system of measures to encourage childbirth. However, Filemon warned of the need to rethink current measures to avoid reductionist policies, address child poverty, and revalue the dignity of human life. In this regard, Filemon has proposed improving the tone of Public Communication, avoiding discourse that blames women or generates rejection. "The current discussion is caught between instrumental pro-natalism and a liberalism that advocates non-intervention," he said. Overcoming both reductionisms would mean rethinking family policy with a more humane, comprehensive, and transcendent view.
The workshop with a presentation by Dolores López, a member of FareLAB, who, in her session entitled "Young and senior population: The role of relationships in an individualistic society,"offered a summary analysis in light of the findings presented.