Perceptions, Future Narratives and Fertility Intentions since the COVID-19 Pandemic

Absztrakt (kivonat)

The Covid-19 epidemic has led to several social changes, including an impact on plans to have children. The aim of this paper is to understand what conditions, perceptions shaped the narratives about having a child during the pandemic. Applying qualitative methodology, the research used semi-structured interviews to investigate how the pandemic as a factor is reflected in decisions to have children. The interviewees' reacted differently to the pandemic induced changes, some of them used this situation to explore new opportunities. Other interviewees’ narratives reflect a sense of uncertainty about the impact of the pandemic on their thinking, plans and future narratives, which in some cases discouraged them from having children. Several interviewees did not link the factors influencing their childbearing decisions to the pandemic, but this situation had an indirect or meditated impact on their fertility plans due to changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The research confirms the role of future narratives in fertility decisions.