Where are all the men? Exploring the lack of make participation in childbearing research using the Theory of Planned Behaviour

The current study examined whether the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) could account for the disproportionately low participation rates of men in childbearing and fertility research and whether the addition of distal factors could help identify the men missing from this specific field of health research. The study was of longitudinal design, comprising two online surveys measuring the TPB constructs (attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control), distal factors (e.g., desire for a child) intentions to participate in childbearing research (time 1) and childbearing research behaviour (time 2). More women (n=623) than men (n=176) participated. Structural models revealed the TPB constructs accounted for 37% and 1% of the variance in intentions and behaviour respectively. Attitudes had the strongest association with intentions (β=.53). Men had significantly less favourable attitudes (p=.000) and lower intentions than women (p=.01). TPB constructs fully and partially mediated associations between distal factors and intentions. The modification of attitudes is likely to be the mechanism that would elicit intention (and behaviour) change amongst those likely to be missing from childbearing and fertility research, namely men not yet at the stage of starting a family. Increasing male participation will help identify unmet needs in research and policy that concern men.

Investigating Family Size Differentials by Religiosity Across Europe: National Contexts, Expectations and Outcomes

In most European countries more religious people have more children than the secular and are less likely to remain childless. However, in some ex-communist states this association is subdued or even inverted. This study investigates not only fertility and partnering outcomes, but also differences in the level of desire for a child. Four contrasting countries are compared: Austria, Switzerland, Bulgaria and Georgia. We found the more religious had higher expectations that a child would bring joy into their life than the non-religious. The religious ‘nones’ tend to be very worried about the financial impact of a(nother) child and negative effect on their sex life; these concerns are much less prevalent among active Christians. In Georgia, where highly educated young people are more religious than the old, differentials by religiosity are small. History and context cause the impact of personal religiosity on fertility behavior and attitudes to be potentially divergent.

Psychological Distress and Coping Mechanisms in Infertile Couples

Numerous motivational and strong emotional intentions can be found in the background of the desire for a child. Hence unintended childlessness gives rise to a severe psychological burden to both members of the couple. In the literature, several studies are involved in the exploration of this subject, albeit most of them bring into focus the differences of psychological liabilities between the genders. A smaller proportion of these papers examined the psychological aspects affecting couples, and just a very small number of studies investigated the psychological aspects in men. Nevertheless, most of the studies proved that although the psychological aspects in women can be more significant compared to their partner, the psychological burden of infertile men are obviously above the population average. Several different, gender-specific coping-mechanisms have been identified, which tend to be less successful in men compared to women. The acquirement of proper coping mechanisms could be more emphasized during the psychotherapeutic part of reproductive treatment.

Myasthenia Gravis: Family Planning, Pregnancy and Delivery

Myasthenia gravis affects women younger than 40 about three times more frequently than men. Therefore, questions about family planning, pregnancy and delivery are common for these patients and their treating physicians. The outcome for mother and child depends a good deal on knowledge of the influence of pregnancy on myasthenia, therapy options, the relationship between the disease and delivery and the newborn. This paper provides an overview of these situations to support women with myasthenia gravis and their physicians in their decision-making regarding desire for children, the course of pregnancy and delivery and neonatal considerations. With thorough advice, good preparation and support of partners and families, the desire for a child can come true for patients with myasthenia gravis. Taking special precautions and with interdisciplinary treatment, the risks for mother and child can be minimized.

Young female students and the motivation dimensions for parenthood

The goal of this paper is establishing whether there is a difference in the motivation for parenthood of the female students, regarding the turn of birth. The research has been done on a convenient sample consisting of 106 female students at the State university of Novi Pazar. In the research, the parenthood Motivation scale has been used. The results have demonstrated that the motivation for parenthood is mostly instrumental and least narcistic with these students. The results of the testing, significance and difference in the motivation for parenthood regarding the turn of birth have demonstrated that, statistically speaking, there is a significant difference in general and instrumental motivation between the first born and the second born. Namely, this dimension is more expressed with the second born questionees [t(82)=-2.446; p<.05]. It has also been demonstrated that the second born questionees have a stronger desire for a child in order to prove oneself, which eventually ascertaines the results of the descriptive analysis of instrumental motivation for parenthood. The research has shown that the female students mostly reduce the motivation for parenthood to its instrumentalization and their desire to have a child to a value of children as they themselves percieve it.