Family formation: Factors influencing married women to have children

Date

2003-08-30

Authors

Foster, Jean Elizabeth

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Abstract

This qualitative study analyzed the factors that influence married women to have children. The participants were 20 married females who were the mother of one or more children. All were Caucasian and lived in the North Central Texas area. The women were in two age groups, ages 35–50 and 70+.

The women were interviewed concerning the influences on their fertility decisions and family formation. The data were analyzed using a constant comparative method. The findings indicate that the women in this study were primarily influenced by personal needs and desires to have a child as well as being influenced by their family of origin. Many of the children were a result of unplanned pregnancies or pregnancies that were planned by default.

The results of this study may be valuable to demographers who plan help plan the infrastructure of our communities. They may help counselors and therapists as they work with clients, particularly employed women who are attempting to make fertility decisions. They may also be valuable to educators who are attempting to develop curricula for family life education courses.

Description

Keywords

Social sciences, Children, Family formation, Fertility, Married women

Citation