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‘Doing it in the right order’ : childless men’s intentions regarding family formation

Hviid Malling, Gritt Marie ; Pitsillos, Tryfonas ; Tydén, Tanja ; Hammarberg, Karin ; Ziebe, S. ; Friberg, Britt LU and Schmidt, Lone (2022) In Human Fertility 25(1). p.188-196
Abstract

In high-income countries, parental age at first birth has increased and this postponement increases the risk of involuntary childlessness or having fewer children than desired. This interview study was conducted in Denmark and Sweden among childless men (n = 29) in their last year of an education. The aim was to explore the role of individual and societal factors on fertility decision-making and men’s reflections on barriers and enablers for earlier family formation. Data were analysed with thematic content analysis. Almost all participants wanted children in the future. Overall, there was a desire to follow the ‘right chronology’: get educated, having a stable relationship, employment and a good financial status before having children.... (More)

In high-income countries, parental age at first birth has increased and this postponement increases the risk of involuntary childlessness or having fewer children than desired. This interview study was conducted in Denmark and Sweden among childless men (n = 29) in their last year of an education. The aim was to explore the role of individual and societal factors on fertility decision-making and men’s reflections on barriers and enablers for earlier family formation. Data were analysed with thematic content analysis. Almost all participants wanted children in the future. Overall, there was a desire to follow the ‘right chronology’: get educated, having a stable relationship, employment and a good financial status before having children. While most men felt mature enough to have children, they were still not ready. Influences from within the inner social circle, societal expectations, the need for security and stability and being ready to give up freedom and individuality were factors that affected participants’ preferred timing of parenthood. Most men did not have suggestions for how earlier family formation could be supported. Results suggest a gap between the ideal biological and ideal social age of family formation that may lead to unfulfilled parenthood aspirations.

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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
decision-making, Family intentions, fertility awareness, men, qualitative study Nordic Countries
in
Human Fertility
volume
25
issue
1
pages
188 - 196
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • pmid:32567408
  • scopus:85087343704
ISSN
1464-7273
DOI
10.1080/14647273.2020.1778803
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
082377bb-706c-4940-958a-b059afda046b
date added to LUP
2020-07-20 08:40:11
date last changed
2024-03-20 12:50:49
@article{082377bb-706c-4940-958a-b059afda046b,
  abstract     = {{<p>In high-income countries, parental age at first birth has increased and this postponement increases the risk of involuntary childlessness or having fewer children than desired. This interview study was conducted in Denmark and Sweden among childless men (n = 29) in their last year of an education. The aim was to explore the role of individual and societal factors on fertility decision-making and men’s reflections on barriers and enablers for earlier family formation. Data were analysed with thematic content analysis. Almost all participants wanted children in the future. Overall, there was a desire to follow the ‘right chronology’: get educated, having a stable relationship, employment and a good financial status before having children. While most men felt mature enough to have children, they were still not ready. Influences from within the inner social circle, societal expectations, the need for security and stability and being ready to give up freedom and individuality were factors that affected participants’ preferred timing of parenthood. Most men did not have suggestions for how earlier family formation could be supported. Results suggest a gap between the ideal biological and ideal social age of family formation that may lead to unfulfilled parenthood aspirations.</p>}},
  author       = {{Hviid Malling, Gritt Marie and Pitsillos, Tryfonas and Tydén, Tanja and Hammarberg, Karin and Ziebe, S. and Friberg, Britt and Schmidt, Lone}},
  issn         = {{1464-7273}},
  keywords     = {{decision-making; Family intentions; fertility awareness; men; qualitative study Nordic Countries}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{188--196}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Human Fertility}},
  title        = {{‘Doing it in the right order’ : childless men’s intentions regarding family formation}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14647273.2020.1778803}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/14647273.2020.1778803}},
  volume       = {{25}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}