Childbearing Motivation and Its Predictors among Married Women in Mashhad, Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Over the past three decades, a global demographic challenge has emerged due to a substantial decline in fertility rates. In response, Iran has introduced significant pronatalist policies to address this trend. This study aims to identify predictors of childbearing motivation among women in the Iranian context. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2023 to December 2023, using convenience sampling, among 301 married women aged 18–50 years in Mashhad, Iran. Data were gathered through demographic questionnaires and Miller’s Childbearing Questionnaire (CBQ). The CBQ assesses childbearing motives across two dimensions: positive (including pleasure in pregnancy, birth, and childhood; traditional parenthood; satisfaction from parenting; feeling needed and connected; and instrumental use of children) and negative (Including fears and worries about parenthood; parental stress; negative aspects of childcare). Results: The mean (SD) age of women was 35.75 (±6.7) years. According to the model, education level was positively associated with the subscales of satisfaction of childrearing (β=0.64, P=0.002) and feeling needed and connected (β=0.63, P=0.006). Moreover, employment status was inversely associated with all positive subscales, and these women reported lower motivation scores across subscales (β ranging from −0.32 to −0.48, P<0.05). Conclusion: Declining fertility rates in Iran are influenced by various factors such as employment status, number of children, and socio-economic constraints. Women’s decisions to delay or limit childbearing require targeted support and flexible policies to ensure sustainable population growth and family well-being.