Understanding expected number of children of childless married and single men and women

Abstract

Applying the data from 64 single(26 men and 38 women) and 71 childless married men and women(37 men and 34 women) aged between 30 and 45, this study is to understand their future fertility intention. For this purpose, ideal and real number of children that participants plan to have were compared using paired t-test. Second, demographic variables(sex, age, marital status), child care related variables(thoughts about caring children, child care value), individual characteristics(gender role attitude, relation orientation) and social context variables(perceived economic condition, recognition of low fertility policies) were included in a stepwise regression model to explain expected number of children participants plan to have in the future. Results showed that ideal number of children participants wish to have was significantly higher than real number of children they expect to have in the Korean society. The stepwise regression model explained 35% of the variance of the dependent variable. Among four types of variables, child care related variables most powerfully explained expected number of children study participants plan to have in the future. Finally, age, child care value, gender role attitude, and relation orientation significantly explained expected number of children in the future.