Reproductive motivation in Russian women in the family context

Objective: This article presents an investigation of characteristics of reproductive motivation, reasons for not having children, and the propensity towards attempting a premeditated abortion in Russian women in early and middle adulthood. Method: Sixty-eight married women (34 childless women (20–25 years old) and 34 women with children (26–35 years)) were assessed on a number of measures. Results: There was no difference in reproductive motives between the two groups of women. The most significant difference is that, unlike younger women’s, middle-aged women’s reproductive motives correlate with life goals and locus of control. However, a large difference was found across two groups in the reasons for not having a baby. Younger women give more reasons for not having children. They specify that a child interferes with self-actualisation, limits social contacts and creates marital problems. In middle adulthood women tend to specify material (financial) difficulties as a reason for not having baby. Regarding premeditated abortion, there is no big difference between groups in attitudes towards it, but the reasons differ from a conflict between children and career in younger women to problems in the wider family system for more mature women. Conclusion: Although there is no significant difference in direct reproductive motivations between both groups, each age has its own specific instrumental reproductive and reproductive refusal motives.