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A wonderful experience or a frightening commitment? An exploration of men’s reasons to (not) have children
Malmö University, Centre for Sexology and Sexuality Studies (CSS). Malmö University, Faculty of Health and Society (HS), Department of Social Work (SA). Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4647-5709
Malmö University, Faculty of Health and Society (HS), Department of Social Work (SA). Malmö University, Centre for Sexology and Sexuality Studies (CSS).ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4663-4004
Malmö University, Centre for Sexology and Sexuality Studies (CSS). Malmö University, Faculty of Health and Society (HS), Department of Social Work (SA).ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2255-6547
2019 (English)In: Reproductive Biomedicine & Society Online, ISSN 2405-6618, Vol. 9, p. 19-27Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Research on reproductive decision-making mainly focuses on women's experiences and desire for children. Men included in this type of research usually represent one-half of a heterosexual couple and/or men who are involuntarily childless. Perspectives from a broader group of men are lacking. This study is based on the results of a baseline questionnaire answered by 191 men aged 20–50 years who attended two sexual health clinics in two major Swedish cities. The questionnaire included questions about sociodemographic background, reproductive history and fertility, but also two open-ended questions focusing on reasons for having or not having children. The results of these two questions were analysed by manifest content analysis and resulted in five categories: ‘(non-)ideal images’, ‘to pass something on’, ‘personal development and self-image’, ‘the relationship with the (potential) co-parent’ and ‘practical circumstances and prerequisites’. Reasons for having children were mainly based on ideal images of children, family and parenthood. Meanwhile, reasons for not having children usually concerned practical issues. The type of answer given was related to men's procreative intentions but not to background characteristics. In conclusion, men raised many different aspects for and against having children. Therefore, reproductive decision-making should not be considered a non-choice among men.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2019. Vol. 9, p. 19-27
Keywords [en]
reproductive decision-making, men, parenthood
National Category
Medical and Health Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-4751DOI: 10.1016/j.rbms.2019.11.002PubMedID: 31938736Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85077501305Local ID: 30516OAI: oai:DiVA.org:mau-4751DiVA, id: diva2:1401585
Available from: 2020-02-28 Created: 2020-02-28 Last updated: 2024-06-17Bibliographically approved

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Bodin, MajaPlantin, LarsElmerstig, Eva

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