Introduction and Validation of the Short Antinatalism Scale (S-ANS)

Antinatalism is the view that procreation is morally wrong. This paper introduces and validates the Short Antinatalism Scale (S-ANS) that allows researchers to measure antinatalist views. We conducted four pre-registered studies with a total of 1088 participants. First, we ran a study on Prolific (N = 296) and conducted an exploratory factor analysis of an initial scale including 22 items drawn from the philosophical literature on antinatalism. In study 2, we conducted a confirmatory factor analysis of a reduced 12-item scale, also on Prolific (N =396). Based on a Mokken Scale Analysis, we further reduced the scale to a 5-item version which we tested in a second confirmatory factor analysis, study 3, on Prolific (N = 297), where we also aimed to provide evidence of validity. The results indicated excellent model fit (RMSEA = 0.012) and validity (with life satisfaction, affective empathy, and conservatism correlating negatively with antinatalism). Lastly, we conducted study 4 with a sample of self-identified antinatalists on Reddit (N = 99) to provide additional evidence of validity. We find that the instrument is measurement invariant between self-described antinatalists and the general population, and that antinatalists score significantly higher on the scale (d = 2.80). The results of this paper indicate that the 5-item Short Antinatalism Scale (S-ANS) is a reliable and valid scale to measure antinatalist beliefs. We hope that the S-ANS, which is freely available to all researchers, advances rigorous research into antinatalism and its determinants across a variety of fields that relate to the value of life and procreation.