Attitude towards childbearing among married women and men aged 18-49 years: The role of religiosity, family, modern media, and modern rethinking

Abstract

Objective (s): As sociologists believe, some part of family changes in Iran is due to changes in peoplechr('39')s attitudes toward childbearing values. The present study aimed to study some social factors affecting the attitude towards childbearing among married women and men. Methods: This cross-sectional was conducted among a sample of married women and men aged 18 to 49 years using cluster sampling technique in Tabriz, Iran. The research instrument consisted of a self-designed questionnaire on attitude towards childbearing, religiosity, family and modern media and modern rethinking. Results: In all 415 citizens were selected. There was no significant difference in attitudes toward childbearing between women and men (p‌= 0.919), but there was significant difference between participants with different educational levels (p‌= 0.010) and socioeconomic statuses (p‌= 0.027) regarding attitudes toward childbearing. There was a direct correlation between family orientation (p=0.000, r=0.54) and religiosity (p < 0.0001, r=0.42) with the attitudes toward childbearing, and between modern reflexivity (p < 0.0001, r= -0.38), degree of usage of internet (p < 0.0001, r= -0.30) and degree of usage of virtual social networks (p= <0.0001, r= -0.24) with the attitudes toward childbearing. Independent variables entering the regression model explained 40% of the variance in attitudes toward the participants’ childbearing. Conclusion: To create positive attitudes towards childbearing among Iranian families, special attentions should be paid to strengthen family life and religion believes.

Keywords

• religiosity
• familialism
• modern media
• modern reflexivity
• childbearing