Balancing Career and Childbearing: The Effect of Work–Family Conflict on Fertility Intentions among Employed Women
Öz
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.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Work–family conflict, fertility intention, attitudes toward childbearing, health services, women’s health.
Kaynakça
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