The predictive Role of Family Life Components on the Attitudes Toward Fertility and Childbearing Decisions of Childless Married Women in the First Three Years after Marriage

Background and Objective: Childbearing decisions are influenced by many factors, and it is necessary to study the effects of each factor. The present study was designed and implemented with the aim of investigating the predictive role of family life components, including marital satisfaction, spousal support, domestic violence, and life satisfaction, on attitudes toward fertility and childbearing decisions of married childless women during the first three years after marriage. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2023 and January 2024 in Qazvin, Iran. Participates were of 214 married childless women in the period of one to three years after marriage recruited using simple random sampling method. The data were collected using questionnaires of attitudes towards fertility and childbearing decisions, satisfaction with life, marital satisfaction, spousal support and domestic violence electronically and using Porsline. The findings were analyzed using uni-variable and multivariable linear regression models at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The average (standard deviation) age of the participants was 27.55 (6.23). Based on the results of multivariate linear regression model, expected number of children (β =0.33, p<0.001), occupation (employee compared to housewife) (β = -0.27, p<0.001), life satisfaction (β =0.23, p <0.001), and length of marriage (β =0.12, p=0.05) were the predictors of the total score of attitude towards fertility and determination to have children. Conclusion: satisfaction with life, being employed, expected number of children were predictors of attitudes towards fertility and childbearing decisions in married women without children in the first three years after marriage. According to the results of this research, implementing interventions based on improving life satisfaction and facilitating childbearing conditions for working breadwinners can help improve the attitude towards fertility and childbearing decisions of young couples.