Manning Wendy D, Guzzo Karen Benjamin, Longmore Monica A, Giordano Peggy C
Department of Sociology, Center for Family and Demographic Research, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA.
Vienna Yearb Popul Res. 2022;20:261-284. doi: 10.1553/populationyearbook2022.res1.7. Epub 2022 Apr 12.
While current evidence indicates that the United States did not experience a baby boom during the pandemic, few empirical studies have considered the underlying rationale for the American baby bust. Relying on data collected during the pandemic ( = 574), we find that pandemic-related subjective assessments (e.g., self-reported stress, fear of COVID-19 and relationship struggles) and not economic indicators (e.g., employment status, income level) were related to levels of fertility motivations among individuals in relationships. Analysis of within-person changes in fertility motivations shows that shifts in the number of children, increases in mental health issues and increases in relationship uncertainty, rather than changes in economic circumstances, were associated with short-term assessments of the importance of avoiding a pregnancy. We argue for broadening conceptual frameworks of fertility motivations by moving beyond a focus on economic factors to include a cognitive schema that takes subjective concerns into account.
虽然目前的证据表明美国在疫情期间没有出现婴儿潮，但很少有实证研究探讨美国婴儿出生率下降的潜在原因。基于疫情期间收集的数据（=574），我们发现，与疫情相关的主观评估（如自我报告的压力、对新冠病毒的恐惧以及关系困扰）而非经济指标（如就业状况、收入水平）与处于恋爱关系中的个人的生育动机水平相关。对个人生育动机变化的分析表明，孩子数量的变化、心理健康问题的增加以及关系不确定性的增加，而非经济状况的变化，与短期内对避免怀孕重要性的评估相关。我们主张拓宽生育动机的概念框架，从仅仅关注经济因素，扩展到纳入一个考虑主观因素的认知模式。
