The Intersection of Work, Career, and Parenthood: A Qualitative Exploration of Fertility Intentions in the Italian Context

In recent decades, low birth rates, delayed parenthood, and a decline in the average number of children per couple have become prevalent issues, sparking growing scientific interest in understanding their causes. While cultural, social, and gender-related factors have been widely examined, work-related dimensions remain underexplored within work and organizational psychology. This qualitative study explores how individuals make sense of the interplay between perceived work-related factors (specifically, working conditions, organizational culture, the work-family interface, and career ambitions) and declared fertility intentions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 33 participants (22 women; 19 without children, 14 with one child; aged 24–45). A subtle realist positioning was adopted, and template analysis was employed to examine the data. The findings highlight how participants interpret multiple work-related dimensions as relevant to their fertility intentions, including high job demands, job insecurity, and family-unfriendly organizational cultures. Concerns about work-family conflict also emerged as central. At the personal level, career ambitions and self-efficacy were identified as key dimensions. Notably, the perception of career-parenthood interference is often associated with limited or postponed decisions about having children. This study contributes to a better understanding of the work-related dimensions that can contribute to shaping fertility intentions and offers practical recommendations for interventions.