Fertility Factors from the Perspective of Mothers of Large Families

Monika Šmeriangaiová
Demografie, 67(1): 24–37
https://doi.org/10.54694/dem.0355

Abstract
This study investigates the perceptions of fertility factors among highly educated and Catholic mothers living in Slovak cities who have large families, which are defined as families with three or more children. While considerable research has focused on the determinants of fertility, particularly in relation to the first and second child, the factors influencing the decision to have a larger family remain underexplored. I seek to fill this gap in part by examining how Slovak mothers of large families perceive various fertility factors that have contradictory effects on reproductive behaviour. Using in-depth interviews, the study reveals several heterogenous perceptions within my homogenous population, especially in the case of factors such as financial costs and institutional childcare. However, the perceived benefits of having children, rooted in religious beliefs, clearly outweighed concerns about career impacts or family budget constraints.

Keywords
large family, fertility, religiosity, female education, family policy