Balancing Career and Childbearing: The Effect of Work–Family Conflict on Fertility Intentions among Employed Women

Year 2025, Volume: 22 Issue: 6, 1295 - 1304, 17.12.2025

Ezgi Şahin , Saadet Yazıcı

https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1807714

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the impact of the conflict experienced by full-time working women between their work and family roles on their intentions to have children in the future. In this context, an online survey was administered between July and September 2025 to 403 women who had been working full time for at least one year, were between the ages of 25 and 45, married, and had never given birth. Data were collected using a Descriptive Information Form, the Work–Family Conflict Scale (WFCS), and the Attitudes Toward Fertility and Childbearing Scale (AFCS). In the data analysis, descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics, followed by t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and two multivariable linear regression models examining work-to-family and family-to-work conflict as continuous variables. The mean age of participants was 31.85 years (SD = 3.75); 51.4% reported experiencing work–family conflict, and overall conflict levels were moderate (WFCS total = 39.5, SD = 3.3). AFCS subscales significantly predicted both directions of conflict (R² = 0.553 for work-to-family; R² = 0.238 for family-to-work). The findings indicate that counseling practices such as boundary management in healthcare settings, spousal role-sharing, structured return-to-work planning, and referrals to reliable childcare services provide meaningful support for women. When these interventions are combined with predictable and flexible work arrangements and accessible leave policies, they may help women achieve a more balanced alignment between their reproductive goals and well-being in the workplace.

Keywords

Work–family conflict , fertility intention , attitudes toward childbearing , health services , women’s health.

Kariyer ve Çocuk Doğurma Arasındaki Denge: Çalışan Kadınlarda İş-Aile Çatışmasının Üreme Niyetleri Üzerindeki Etkisi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, tam zamanlı olarak çalışan kadınların iş ve aile rolleri arasında yaşadığı çatışmanın, gelecekte çocuk sahibi olma niyetleri üzerindeki etkisini incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. Bu kapsamda, Temmuz–Eylül 2025 tarihleri arasında, en az bir yıldır tam zamanlı çalışan, 25–45 yaş aralığında, evli ve hiç doğum yapmamış 403 kadına çevrim içi bir anket uygulanmıştır. Veriler Tanımlayıcı Bilgi Formu, İş-Aile Çatışması Ölçeği (WFCS) ve Doğurganlığa ve Çocuk Doğurmaya Yönelik Tutumlar Ölçeği (AFCS) ile toplanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde tanımlayıcı istatistikler, katılımcı özelliklerini özetlemek için kullanılmış; ardından işten aileye ve aileden işe çatışmayı sürekli değişkenler olarak inceleyen t-testleri, tek yönlü ANOVA ve iki çok değişkenli doğrusal regresyon modeli uygulanmıştır. Katılımcıların ortalama yaşı 31,85'tir (SD = 3,75); %51,4'ü iş-aile çatışması yaşadığını bildirmiş ve genel çatışma düzeyleri orta düzeydedir (WFCS toplamı = 39,5, SD = 3,3). AFCS alt ölçekleri, çatışmanın her iki yönünü de anlamlı şekilde öngörmüştür (işten aileye geçiş için R² = 0,553; aileden işe geçiş için R² = 0,238). Bulgular, sağlık hizmetlerinde sınır yönetimi, eşler arası rol paylaşımı, yapılandırılmış işe dönüş planlaması ve güvenilir çocuk bakım hizmetlerine yönlendirme gibi danışmanlık uygulamalarının kadınlara destek sağladığını göstermektedir. Bu uygulamalar, öngörülebilir ve esnek çalışma düzenlemeleri ile erişilebilir izin politikalarıyla birlikte sunulduğunda, kadınların üreme hedefleri ile iş yaşamındaki iyilik hâllerini daha uyumlu bir şekilde dengelemelerine yardımcı olabilir.

Keywords

İş-aile çatışması , doğurganlık niyeti , çocuk sahibi olmaya yönelik tutumlar , sağlık hizmetleri , kadın sağlığı

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