Parenting styles and fertility intention: Mediating effects of childbearing beliefs and psychological resilience

Abstract

China's declining fertility rate is partly due to low fertility intention among childbearing population. To understand family influence on young people's fertility intention and its underlying mechanisms, this study examines how parenting styles (authoritarian vs. permissive) affect Chinese college students' fertility intention, with traditional childbearing beliefs and resilience as mediators. Data were collected from 839 participants (Age: M = 21.1, SD = 1.7 years) using structured questionnaires. Logistic regression found that a positive correlation between permissive parenting style and fertility intention, with authoritarian parenting having no impact. Mediation analysis showed the association between permissive parenting style and fertility intention was fully mediated through resilience ( = 0.0, 95%CI = [0.0,0.1]) and greater childbearing beliefs ( = 0.0, 95%CI = [0.0,0.1]). The findings indicate that permissive parenting is related to higher fertility intention in youth via resilience and childbearing beliefs. Promoting positive family environments and permissive parenting may enhance childbearing intention.