Having children may make you more conservative, study finds

Research offers possibility that a decline in the birthrate contributes to liberalisation

Like grey hairs and unexpected aches, becoming more conservative is often thought to be a by-product of age. But now it appears it may be rooted in a different cause: having children.

Researchers have found that people who do not have children tend to be more socially liberal than parents, and that having children helps explain why people tend to become more rightwing with age.