Since 2016, China has begun to implement the "comprehensive two-child"
fertility policy, in order to adjust the country's reproductive status and improve the
population aging structure. However, the policy's effect is lower than expected, and
the survey shows that the intention to have second child is low in mothers with one
child, especially those working mothers in big cities. Given the strong prediction of
fertility intention on fertility behavior, it is necessary to investigate the psychological
factors underlying female's low second childbirth intention.
This study used the qualitative research method and collected in-depth
interviewing data from 26 females working in Beijing. Through successive coding
and thematic analysis, we extracted six higher-order themes: "expected constrained
personal capabilities"" insufficient familial and social support"“perceived heavy cost
of raising children"“perceived pressure to be good enough parents”“second
childbirth prevents the fulfilling women's career values”and“second childbirth
sacrifice personal life".Finally, two core themes were integrated:“expected limited
nurturing efficacy constrain to foster two good children”and“conflicts with
self-fulfillment weakening the second childbirth intention"
We also collected 200 text messages from Internet and two life diaries of two
children's mothers from WeChat, and conducted theme analysis in these text
materials. We extracted five higher-order themes: "perceived constrained personal
capabilities"“insufficient familial and support"“perceived heavy cost of raising
children"“perceived accomplishment" and "fulfillment of motherhood". Finally,
two core themes were integrated:“perceived constrained nurturing efficacy after
having second child"and "two kids' healthy growing make mother feel accomplished
and self-fulfilling”
Conclusion: The "expected constrained nurturing efficacy" and "conflict with
self-fulfillment" are two core psychological mechanisms underlying working
women's low intention to have second child
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