Theme

Humanities, Arts and Education

“Kailan ka magkakaanak?” Understanding the Rise of the Dual Income and No Kids (DINK) Families in the Philippines

Authors

Maria Veronica Y. Cervantes, De La Salle UniversityFollow
Lucille Beatrice P. Casipit, De La Salle UniversityFollow
Stephanie Marie D. Jacob, De La Salle UniversityFollow
Sabrina Yunis C. Obispo, De La Salle UniversityFollow
Marie_Valen N. Cortez, De La Salle UniversityFollow

Research Advisor

Marie_Valen N. Cortez

Abstract

The Dual Income, No Kids (DINK) lifestyle is gaining popularity in the Philippines as couples prioritize financial freedom and personal development. It is recognized that in the Philippines, where family-centered values hold significant importance, living a childfree lifestyle remains a rare choice. However, this choice has recently gained attention, reflecting a growing tension between traditional expectations and modern aspirations. Lack of literature on Dual Income, No Kids (DINK) families in the Philippines created a gap in understanding this phenomenon and failed to present how Filipino couples navigate this choice. The study employed a transcendental phenomenological (TPh) approach, which involves understanding a phenomenon from an individual's insight. A semi-structured and qualitative study was conducted utilizing the Zoom platform to interview four married couples aged 21 to 45. Neal & Neal's (2023) “The ABCs of Family Status” framework was used to guide research questions and data analysis. This outlines Attitudes, Behaviors, and Circumstances that influence family decisions. The Braun and Clarke (2006) thematic analysis method was employed to identify, analyze, and interpret patterns within the qualitative data, thereby understanding participants' experiences and perspectives. The findings indicated that couples value career and personal freedom without the responsibilities of parenthood. The couple's outlook on future stability and the perceived constraints of having children in an unpredictable economic and environmental context also affected their decision to remain childfree. To further understand the DINK phenomenon, the study recommends employing a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys.

Recommended Citation

Cervantes, M. V. Y., Casipit, B. P., Jacob, S. M. D., Obispo, S. Y. C., & Cortez, M. V. N. (2025). Kailan ka magkakaanak? Understanding the rise of the dual income and no kids families in the Philippines. Sinaya, (3)2, 114–132. https://doi.org/10.59588/3027-9283.1256