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

Ezgi Şahin; Saadet Yazıcı

doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1807714

EN TR

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

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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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Sociology of Family and Relationships, Sociology of Gender, Sociology of Health, Sociology of The Life Course

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Ezgi Şahin ^*
0000-0002-5971-2964
Türkiye

Saadet Yazıcı
0000-0001-6348-0695
Türkiye

Publication Date

December 17, 2025

Submission Date

October 21, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 9, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 22 Number: 6

DOI

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

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA74HC87FD

APA

Şahin, E., & Yazıcı, S. (2025). Balancing Career and Childbearing: The Effect of Work–Family Conflict on Fertility Intentions among Employed Women. OPUS Journal of Society Research, 22(6), 1295-1304. https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1807714

AMA

1.Şahin E, Yazıcı S. Balancing Career and Childbearing: The Effect of Work–Family Conflict on Fertility Intentions among Employed Women. OPUS JSR. 2025;22(6):1295-1304. doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1807714

Chicago

Şahin, Ezgi, and Saadet Yazıcı. 2025. “Balancing Career and Childbearing: The Effect of Work–Family Conflict on Fertility Intentions Among Employed Women”. OPUS Journal of Society Research 22 (6): 1295-1304. https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1807714.

EndNote

Şahin E, Yazıcı S (December 1, 2025) Balancing Career and Childbearing: The Effect of Work–Family Conflict on Fertility Intentions among Employed Women. OPUS Journal of Society Research 22 6 1295–1304.

IEEE

[1]E. Şahin and S. Yazıcı, “Balancing Career and Childbearing: The Effect of Work–Family Conflict on Fertility Intentions among Employed Women”, OPUS JSR, vol. 22, no. 6, pp. 1295–1304, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.26466/opusjsr.1807714.

ISNAD

Şahin, Ezgi - Yazıcı, Saadet. “Balancing Career and Childbearing: The Effect of Work–Family Conflict on Fertility Intentions Among Employed Women”. OPUS Journal of Society Research 22/6 (December 1, 2025): 1295-1304. https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1807714.

JAMA

1.Şahin E, Yazıcı S. Balancing Career and Childbearing: The Effect of Work–Family Conflict on Fertility Intentions among Employed Women. OPUS JSR. 2025;22:1295–1304.

MLA

Şahin, Ezgi, and Saadet Yazıcı. “Balancing Career and Childbearing: The Effect of Work–Family Conflict on Fertility Intentions Among Employed Women”. OPUS Journal of Society Research, vol. 22, no. 6, Dec. 2025, pp. 1295-04, doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1807714.

Vancouver

1.Ezgi Şahin, Saadet Yazıcı. Balancing Career and Childbearing: The Effect of Work–Family Conflict on Fertility Intentions among Employed Women. OPUS JSR. 2025 Dec. 1;22(6):1295-304. doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1807714

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

Abstract

Keywords

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

Abstract

Keywords

References

Details

Primary Language

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Acceptance Date

Published in Issue

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