“Kailan ka magkakaanak?” Understanding the Rise of the Dual Income, No Kids Families in the Philippines

Proponent/s Name/s (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)

Maria Veronica Yap Cervantes, De La Salle UniversityFollow
Stephanie Marie Delgado Jacob, De La Salle UniersityFollow
Sabrina Yunis Centeno Obispo, De La Salle UniversityFollow
Lucille Beatrice Perete Casipit, De La Salle UniversityFollow
Marie_Valen Niebres Cortez, De La Salle UniversityFollow

Document Types

Paper Presentation

School Name

De La Salle University

Track or Strand

Humanities and Social Science (HUMSS)

Research Advisor (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)

Cortez, Marie_Valen, N.

Start Date

23-6-2025 3:30 PM

End Date

23-6-2025 5:00 PM

Zoom Link/ Room Assignment

EKR 403

Abstract/Executive Summary

The Dual Income, No Kids (DINK) lifestyle is becoming popular in the Philippines as couples seek financial freedom and personal growth (Macaraeg, 2024). It is acknowledged that in the Philippines, where family-centered values hold significant importance, the decision to adopt a childfree lifestyle remains a relatively rare choice. The dearth of literature on Dual Income, No Kids (DINK) families in the Philippines creates a gap in understanding the phenomenon and fails to present how Filipino couples navigate this choice. To understand this, the study employed a Transcendental Phenomenological (TPh) approach, which involves understanding a phenomenon from the insight of an individual. The lack of literature on DINK families in the Philippines limits understanding of how couples navigate this choice. “The ABCs of Family Status” by Neal & Neal's (2023) was used in the study to guide the research questions and analyze the data along with Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis. The findings show that couples value the freedom to pursue their careers and personal goals without the responsibilities of parenthood. The paper recommends that future researchers use a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative interviews with quantitative surveys in order to gain a deeper understanding of the DINK lifestyle. This study highlights personal experiences but suggests future research incorporate statistical analysis and explore trends among middle-class millennials regarding their childfree choices. A mixed-methods approach is recommended to study this lifestyle, blending quantitative and qualitative methods to explore characteristics and prevalence among upper-middle-class working professionals and their evolving views on marriage and family.

Keywords

dink; childfree couples; filipino family; voluntary childlessness

Research Theme (for Paper Presentation and Poster Presentation submissions only)

Family, Relations, and Social Structure (FRS)

Initial Consent for Publication

yes

Statement of Originality

yes