Young women’s intentions to delay childbearing: A test of the theory of planned behaviour

Abstract

Objectives: The general purpose of the present study was to examine the applicability of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) in accounting for young women’s intentions to delay childbearing. Background: TPB has been successfully applied in numerous studies examining intentions to have/not have a child but, to date, intentions to delay childbearing has not been explicitly examined within this framework. The present study addresses this gap by examining childless women’s intentions to delay motherhood within the framework of the TPB. Methods: Sixty-nine young, childless women (M_age = 21.0) completed a self-administered TPB questionnaire encompassing intentions to delay childbearing past the age of 30 and measures of attitudes, subjective norms, perceived control, as well as the beliefs underlying these global constructs. Results: Attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control all significantly contributed to account for 61% of the variance in intentions to delay childbearing past the age of 30, but perceived control emerged as the most significant predictor, accounting for 24% of the unique variance. Following a targeted examination of the belief structure underlying perceptions of control over delayed childbearing, five control beliefs emerged as significantly related to the global measure of perceived control. These beliefs were related to personal health, fertility, and belief that one will be in a stable relationship in the future. Confidence in the longevity of fertility was the prime contributor to perceptions of control. Conclusion: The results provide preliminary support for the applicability of the TPB model in accounting for intentions to delay childbearing among a sample of young childless women.

Keywords:

• delayed childbearing
• intentions
• theory of planned behaviour
• fertility
• reproduction

Notes

1. Detailed methodology regarding the elicitation phase is available from the authors upon request.

2. The average maternal age at first birth is below 30 years old in both Canada and the US (28.5 and 25.6 respectively) (Martin, Hamilton, Ventura, Osterman, & Mathews, 2013; Milan, 2013). Thus, a threshold of 30 years of age represents a delay compared to the population average.