Factors influencing childbirth intention and the moderating role of values regarding children among nursing students in Korea: a cross-sectional study

TL;DR

This study explores what influences nursing students in Korea to intend to have children, focusing on how their views about marriage and children play a role.

Contribution

The study reveals how values regarding children moderate the relationship between marital attitudes and childbirth intention among nursing students.

Findings

Values regarding children were the strongest positive predictor of childbirth intention.

A passive marital attitude was negatively associated with childbirth intention.

Values regarding children moderated the relationship between marital attitude and childbirth intention.

Abstract

This study aimed to identify factors influencing childbirth intention among nursing students, with particular focus on the relationship between marital attitude and childbirth intention, and whether values regarding children moderate this relationship.

A descriptive correlational study was conducted with 205 unmarried third- and fourth-year nursing students from eight colleges in Jeollabuk-do, Korea. Participants completed an online survey on childbirth intention, marital attitude, and values regarding children. Data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression and moderation analysis (PROCESS Model 1).

Values regarding children, reported at a moderate level, were the strongest positive predictor of childbirth intention, which was slightly below moderate. Childbirth intention showed a positive correlation with values regarding children (r=.61, p<.001) and marital attitude (r=.15, p=.019). Among the marital attitude subdomains, conservative and active attitudes were positively associated, while a passive attitude was negatively associated, with childbirth intention. Childbirth intention was also positively related to economic satisfaction (r=0.19, p=.003) but not to major satisfaction (r=0.10, p=.078). Values regarding children were positively correlated with economic satisfaction (r=0.18, p=.004) and moderated the relationship between marital attitude and childbirth intention (B=.02, p=.04). Simple slope analysis revealed that marital attitude negatively affected childbirth intention only among students with low values regarding children (B=–.19, p=.029).

Childbirth intention among nursing students is primarily shaped by values regarding children and marital attitudes. In particular, a low valuation of children amplifies the negative effect of marital attitudes.

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