Individual and familial factors influencing women’s reluctance to childbearing: A qualitative study
Background & Aim: Iran currently experiences a fertility rate below the replacement level, with decisions regarding childbearing influenced by various factors. This study focuses on individual and familial perspectives that contribute to women's reluctance to have children. Methods & Ma...
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Tehran University of Medical Sciences
2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | http://hayat.tums.ac.ir/article-1-5453-en.pdf |
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| author | Leili Borimnejad Saeideh Bazzazian Fatemeh Barkhordari Nasrin Rezaiee |
| author_facet | Leili Borimnejad Saeideh Bazzazian Fatemeh Barkhordari Nasrin Rezaiee |
| author_sort | Leili Borimnejad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background & Aim: Iran currently experiences a fertility rate below the replacement level, with decisions regarding childbearing influenced by various factors. This study focuses on individual and familial perspectives that contribute to women's reluctance to have children.
Methods & Materials: This qualitative research employed a conventional content analysis approach conducted during the period of 2022-2023. The sample comprised married women, aged 30 to 45, residing in different regions of Tehran (north, south, west, east, and central) who have voluntarily chosen not to have children. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, guided by specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, utilizing a snowball sampling technique. Data saturation was achieved with a sample of 19 women. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman’s framework with the aid of MAXQDA 2022.
Results: Data analysis revealed two primary themes: familial factors and individual factors. Each theme comprised four categories, with two subcategories identified for each category. The familial factors include: (1) issues related to the family of origin, (2) mutual agreement on childlessness between partners, (3) instability in marital life, and (4) lack of marital satisfaction. The individual factors encompass: (1) idealism, (2) egocentrism and individualism, (3) negative health effects of childbearing on mothers, and (4) the conflict between maternal and professional roles, which are recognized as significant determinants in the decision not to have children.
Conclusion: This qualitative study sheds light on the complexity of the decision-making process regarding childlessness in this age group and highlights the need to address individual and familial factors alongside others, in population growth policies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d943611491114404941aea1d8d589cea |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1735-2215 2008-188X |
| language | fas |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Tehran University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | حیات |
| spelling | doaj-art-d943611491114404941aea1d8d589cea2025-08-20T03:29:14ZfasTehran University of Medical Sciencesحیات1735-22152008-188X2025-04-01311116Individual and familial factors influencing women’s reluctance to childbearing: A qualitative studyLeili Borimnejad0Saeideh Bazzazian1Fatemeh Barkhordari2Nasrin Rezaiee3 Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Dept. of Clinical Psychology, WT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Dept. of Counseling, A.C., Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran Background & Aim: Iran currently experiences a fertility rate below the replacement level, with decisions regarding childbearing influenced by various factors. This study focuses on individual and familial perspectives that contribute to women's reluctance to have children. Methods & Materials: This qualitative research employed a conventional content analysis approach conducted during the period of 2022-2023. The sample comprised married women, aged 30 to 45, residing in different regions of Tehran (north, south, west, east, and central) who have voluntarily chosen not to have children. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, guided by specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, utilizing a snowball sampling technique. Data saturation was achieved with a sample of 19 women. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman’s framework with the aid of MAXQDA 2022. Results: Data analysis revealed two primary themes: familial factors and individual factors. Each theme comprised four categories, with two subcategories identified for each category. The familial factors include: (1) issues related to the family of origin, (2) mutual agreement on childlessness between partners, (3) instability in marital life, and (4) lack of marital satisfaction. The individual factors encompass: (1) idealism, (2) egocentrism and individualism, (3) negative health effects of childbearing on mothers, and (4) the conflict between maternal and professional roles, which are recognized as significant determinants in the decision not to have children. Conclusion: This qualitative study sheds light on the complexity of the decision-making process regarding childlessness in this age group and highlights the need to address individual and familial factors alongside others, in population growth policies.http://hayat.tums.ac.ir/article-1-5453-en.pdfvoluntary childlessnessqualitative studycontent analysis |
| spellingShingle | Leili Borimnejad Saeideh Bazzazian Fatemeh Barkhordari Nasrin Rezaiee Individual and familial factors influencing women’s reluctance to childbearing: A qualitative study حیات voluntary childlessness qualitative study content analysis |
| title | Individual and familial factors influencing women’s reluctance to childbearing: A qualitative study |
| title_full | Individual and familial factors influencing women’s reluctance to childbearing: A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Individual and familial factors influencing women’s reluctance to childbearing: A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Individual and familial factors influencing women’s reluctance to childbearing: A qualitative study |
| title_short | Individual and familial factors influencing women’s reluctance to childbearing: A qualitative study |
| title_sort | individual and familial factors influencing women s reluctance to childbearing a qualitative study |
| topic | voluntary childlessness qualitative study content analysis |
| url | http://hayat.tums.ac.ir/article-1-5453-en.pdf |
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