Torn between two paths: uncertainty and ambivalence in fertility intentions

In countries with widespread access to modern contraception, childbearing is, for most people, a deliberate choice. Demographic theory has often implicitly assumed that people have clearly defined preferences or desires towards children and are able to articulate their future parenthood plans. For some people, the decision does come easily and can be clearly articulated. However, a growing body of recent theoretical and empirical work suggests that reproductive decisions often involve a significant degree of ambivalence around childbearing desires, and uncertainty regarding fertility intentions.

The study analyses text data, consisting of posts and comments, from an online community on Reddit which is dedicated specifically to individuals who are struggling with the decision of whether or not to embark into parenthood, or to have another child. This corpus represents a large-scale, self-initiated, and naturalistic account of fertility decision making and provides a rare opportunity to understand the nature of ambivalence and uncertainty around parenthood and childbearing. The data are analysed using qualitative thematic methods. The study draws on theoretical frameworks of fertility decision making from demography, as well as decision-making theories from psychology. The aim is to identify the key recurring patterns of ambivalence and sources of uncertainty in fertility decision making, and the strategies people use to navigate them.

Preliminary findings point to the important influence of cognitive biases, including status quo bias and loss aversion, alongside distinct decision-making styles (rational, intuitive, dependent, avoidant, spontaneous). This study extends existing demographic frameworks and offers new insight into the lived experience of reproductive indecision.

This session will serve as the confirmation of candidature for Anna's doctoral research.

Anna Reimondos is a first-year PhD student at the Australian National University in the School of Demography. She has worked as a research assistant at the School of Demography for the past 20 years on a wide range of projects, primarily relating to family formation. She holds a Master of Population Studies from the ANU and a BSc Population Studies from the London School of Economics. Her doctoral research examines uncertainty and ambivalence in fertility decision-making.
 

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