Attitudes toward Medically Assisted Reproduction in Europe: The Role of Socio-Economic Status

Rebecca Soldo , University of Florence
Agnese Vitali, University of Trento

Alongside declining fertility and delayed parenthood, the use of Medically Assisted Reproduction (MAR) has risen across high-income countries. Understanding attitudes toward these technologies and how they are shaped by individual characteristics is key to uncovering the social mechanisms underlying reproductive norms and inequalities. While previous research has examined MAR attitudes in specific groups or single-country contexts, less is known about how these attitudes vary across socio-economic groups and countries over time. This study investigates how individuals’ socio-economic status (SES) – encompassing education, income, and occupation – shapes attitudes toward MAR in Europe, and how these associations evolve across cohorts and over time. Drawing on data from waves 4 (2008–10) and 5 (2017–20) of the European Values Study, attitudes toward MAR are measured on a 10-point scale capturing the perceived moral acceptability of artificial insemination and in-vitro fertilization. Multilevel regression models account for individual-level characteristics (e.g., SES, respondents’ age) and country-level factors (e.g., legal frameworks of MAR, GDP). Building on social stratification theories, we expect higher-SES individuals to be more favourable towards MAR, with education exerting the strongest influence. We also expect younger cohorts to express higher support and anticipate an overall increase in MAR acceptance over time. Cross-country variation is expected to reflect institutional and cultural contexts, with SES differences more pronounced where MAR use remains morally contested or socially stratified. By integrating multiple SES dimensions and examining temporal and cross-national variation, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the social determinants of MAR attitudes in Europe.

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 Presented in Session 89. Flash Session Medically Assisted Reproduction and Infertility