Intentions to Have a Child: A Couple ‐Based Process

ConclusionIndividual attitudes and behaviors with regard to intentions for having a child tend to be affected by their partner's attitudes and behaviors toward the same. Thus, the family systems approach take here provides a more holistic understanding of couple and family decision‐making processes on this issue than is possible when only collecting data from individuals.
ImplicationsFor parents, interventions aimed at enhancing communication and negotiation skills between couple members could foster a more shared and informed decision‐making process. Improving women's sense of control and mastery over the juggling of multiple roles may help reduce childless women's concerns about the costs of having children.

Source: Family Relations - October 6, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Marisa Matias, Anne Marie Fontaine Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research