Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7689-0263

Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

PhD

College

Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

JoNell Strough

Committee Member

Amy Gentzler

Committee Member

Katie Corcoran

Committee Member

Jake Follmer

Abstract

Fertility intentions include plans to have one or more children; intentions can be used to predict fertility behavior. The focus of the current study was to examine the influence of age and gender on factors involved in estimating fertility intentions (measured with 5 items), including attitudes (i.e., how one feels about becoming a parent; 13 items), norms (i.e., pressure from important others to have children; 5 items), and perceived control (beliefs about capability of becoming a parent; 4 items) in a U.S. sample. The study included a sample of N = 289 (51% men) participants (75.6% White) between the ages of 24-40 (M = 32.55) who completed a computer-based survey. A structural equation model revealed attitudes, norms, and perceived control were significant predictors of fertility intentions, accounting for 77% of the variance. A 3 (age group) x 2 (gender) Multivariate Analysis of Covariance on outcomes of attitudes, norms, and perceived control revealed no significant main effects for gender or age. However, there was an interaction between gender and age for attitudes, with men reporting more positive attitudes towards having children than women, in the oldest age group. A 3x2 Analysis of Covariance on fertility intentions revealed a main effect for age; older participants reported less intention to have children compared to the two younger groups. There was an interaction between gender and age for intentions, with men reporting greater intentions to have children than women, in the oldest age group. The contributions of this study included having a comparable sample of men and women and including participants of advanced reproductive age. The study of fertility intentions is a relevant and timely topic, impacting many domains and having micro-level to macro-level implications. Limitations of the current study and suggested future directions are discussed.

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