Wanting, Yet Doubting: Moderating Role of Gender on the Relationship Between Ambivalence and Childbearing Desires

Childbearing ambivalence-the coexistence of positive and negative evaluations regarding having children-has become an important focus in fertility research. Prior studies have primarily examined its role in contraceptive use and parenthood postponement, yet little is known about how ambivalence relates to the desire for children, particularly in the early, motivational stages of reproductive decision-making. This study investigates the association between subjective ambivalence towards childbearing and individuals' childbearing desires, with particular attention to gender differences. The analysis covers a sample of 831 childless individuals (520 women and 311 men) aged 20-35, who participated in a nationwide study on childbearing motivations in Poland, in December 2022. Respondents completed measures of subjective ambivalence and childbearing desire. Regression and moderation analyses were applied. Our findings indicate that higher ambivalence was associated with lower childbearing desire among men but with stronger desire among women. Although generally modest, these associations suggest that ambivalence may reflect distinct evaluative processes in women and men. Because the data are cross-sectional, it remains unclear whether ambivalence shapes desire differently by gender, whether stronger desire heightens ambivalence specifically among women, or whether reciprocal processes are involved. Longitudinal research is needed to clarify the direction and mechanisms of these associations.