Impact of the older generation’s support on fertility in Russia

The problem of fertility remains urgent for the Russian society that negatively affects the demographic situation in the country. Fertility is influenced by many economic and social factors, including the support of senior parents. Scientists give ambiguous assessment of the role of this support. The article is aimed at analyzing the impact of family support on fertility. On the basis of the study of the role of senior parents as subjects of family support there are identified the factors influencing the character of support and reproductive attitudes of younger generations. The study used methods of system analysis, general scientific methods. It is concluded that against the background of the transition to the European model of the family, the emotional and material support of senior parents has not lost its relevance and remains one of the significant factors when making decisions about childbirth. Meanwhile, there is a transformation of the role of older generation, change in the dominant forms of support for child care and upbringing. In this aspect, the authors propose a typology of families with children under 14 by the degree of senior parents’ support for child care. In Russia, there has been an increase in the retirement age, which gives reason to consider the impact of this factor on the help of older parents. The paper presents a reasonable forecast of possible changes in the reproductive attitudes of young families due to the increase in the retirement age. The obtained results can be used to improve the state demographic policy, in the development of measures to raise the fertility.