The Decision to Parent or Not: Normative and Structural Components

Abstract

This study addresses antecedent factors associated with the decision to parent or not to parent. 3 interrelated aspects of fertility were investigated: 1) the existence of childbearing norms; 2) the strength of reinforcing social sanctions; 3) the influence of social structural factors on the incorporation of such norms. Findings based on questionnaire data from a purposive sample of 84 young middle class parent and nonparent couples from the midwestern U.S. were examined to evaluate the utility of normative versus structural explanations of fertility decisions. The findings indicate that the hypothesized normative and structural factors as well as 2 unanticipated mediating social psychological mechanisms (respondants definition of the situation and their selective referent group participation) differentially influence fertility outcomes.(AUTHOR ABSTRACT)

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