Fertility desires, intentions and behaviour

Berrington, Ann (2021) Fertility desires, intentions and behaviour. In, Schneider, Nobert and Kreyenfeld, Michaela (eds.) Research Handbook on the Sociology of the Family. Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 248-262.

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Abstract

Much research over the past few decades has sought to understand how fertility desires and intentions interact with key biological (e.g. age) and structural (e.g. partnership, employment status) factors to influence childbearing. This chapter first reviews recent trends in European fertility before discussing theoretical frameworks used to understand how childbearing desires and intentions translate into fertility behaviour. The chapter discusses how uncertain and ambivalent intentions arise and the importance of considering couples’ joint circumstances. To fully understand the development of motivations and intentions, the adjustment of intentions over the life course, and likelihood of their realisation prospective life course data are required. This would include detailed information on parental background, childhood circumstances and experiences in adulthood, across multiple life course domains. Bio-medical data should be collected to better integrate social and biological studies of fertility. Ideas for future research, for example examining the use of assisted fertility technologies, are explored.

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