کاوشی در بسترهای انگیزه‌بخش و کنترلگر فرزندآوری در شهر یزد

جمعیت و فرزندآوری یکی از مهم‌ترین مسائل اجتماعی حال حاضر در ایران است. پژوهش حاضر مطالعه‌‌ای کیفی است که در سال 2-1401 در شهر یزد و با هدف کشف و شناسایی زمینه‌ها و بسترهای انگیزه‌بخش و کنترلگر فرزندآوری در بین شهروندان انجام‌گرفته است. به‌منظور اجرای این پژوهش و دستیابی به تفسیرهای مشارکت‌کنندگان و تحلیل نظری آن، از نظریۀ داده‌بنیاد (رویکرد برساخت‌گرایی چارمز) به‌عنوان یکی از روش‌های کیفی و تفسیری بهره گرفته شد. مشارکت‌کنندگان پژوهش حاضر 25 نفر از زنان شهر یزد بودند که با آنها مصاحبه‌های نیمه‌ساختاریافتۀ 80 تا 120 دقیقه‌ای انجام گرفت و سپس داده‌ها به‌منظور ساخت مفاهیم، کدگذاری و ارائه شد. دلالت‌های معنابخش فرزندآوری و موانع و ادراک مخاطره از مقولاتی است که در این ارتباط استخراج شد و کدهای متمرکز پژوهش عبارت بودند از: فرزندآوری به‌مثابه فرصت رهایی‌بخشی از چالش‌ها، معنابخشی به زندگی، ترجیح جنسی والدین، نگرانی‌های تربیتی، تغییرات سریع سبک زندگی نسل جوان و تلقی فرزند به‌مثابه باری اقتصادی. نتایج پژوهش نشان داد قصد فرزندآوری تابعی از زیست جهان اجتماعی است که بر باور ذهنی کنشگران اثرگذار است؛ علاوه‌براین قصد فرزندآوری با چالش‌ها و نگرانی‌هایی روبه‌رو شده و انگیزۀ سوژه‌ها را کاهش داده است، به‌گونه‌ای که بر عوامل انگیزه‌بخش نیز سایه افکنده است.

exploration of the motivating and controlling contexts of childbearing in yazd city

introductionpopulation dynamics and childbearing are among the most pressing social issues in iran today. childbearing is a critical factor in population studies and holds significant importance in social and cultural discourse. fertility is one of the three key elements driving demographic change, which is influenced by various economic, social, and demographic factors that shape couples’ decisions about childbearing and women’s reproductive behaviors. throughout history, fertility trends have evolved from traditional to modern societies shaped by numerous influences. as a social phenomenon, fertility occurs within a specific socio-cultural context where culture and institutional frameworks establish the values and norms surrounding it. iranian society has experienced profound transformations across social, cultural, economic, and demographic dimensions. one notable development is the rapid decline in fertility rates, which has been observed across all provinces, both urban and rural. these demographic shifts, particularly the decline in fertility, have significant implications for the age structure of the population. a decreasing total fertility rate may diminish the economic and social vitality of society by reducing the overall population and increasing the proportion of elderly individuals, thereby posing challenges to the labor force. iran is one of the few countries, which has undergone a demographic transition in a remarkably short period, with a significant decline in overall fertility rates in recent decades. this study was qualitative in nature and was conducted in yazd city during 2022-2023. its objective was to explore and identify the motivational and restrictive factors influencing childbearing decisions among citizens.  materials & methodsto conduct this research and gather participants’ insights for theoretical analysis, a data-based theory approach (drawing on charms’ structuralist methodology) was utilized as a qualitative and interpretive framework. the study involved 25 women from yazd, with whom semi-structured interviews lasting between 80 and 120 minutes were conducted. the collected data were subsequently coded and organized to develop key concepts.discussion of results & conclusiondata analysis revealed that participants expressed a desire to have children; however, their current life circumstances had hindered them from achieving this goal. from the analysis, 6 subcategories emerged: childbearing as an opportunity to escape challenges, creating meaning in life, parental gender preference, educational concerns, rapid lifestyle changes among the younger generation, and viewing children as an economic burden. these subcategories were subsequently grouped into 2 main categories: significant implications of childbearing and obstacles and risk perceptions. the findings indicated that the intention to bear children was influenced by the social context, in which individuals lived, affecting their subjective beliefs. additionally, this intention faced various challenges and concerns, which diminished the participants’ motivation and negatively impacted their aspirations. addressing the challenges of childbearing requires a multifaceted approach, considering factors, such as unstable economic conditions, social pressures, and cultural frameworks. therefore, it is recommended that policymakers and family planning strategists develop population policies that reflect the demographic realities of iranian society, analyze the shortcomings of existing family planning programs, and assess their impacts. such an approach would empower women to make informed decisions regarding their preferences and aspirations for childbearing. policymakers should leverage the capabilities of media and mass communication to promote population policies that encourage childbearing through compelling messaging, fostering positive perceptions among the public. furthermore, they must remain steadfast in their commitment to implementing the promised incentives. policies should also address economic inequalities, emergence of unstable employment conditions, evolving gender roles, increasing economic responsibilities of mothers, and the rising housing costs that many families find unaffordable. additionally, they should consider the diverse preferences individuals have concerning the timing and number of children they wish to have. future research should explore the effectiveness of policies aimed at encouraging childbearing and protecting the population, particularly from the perspectives of stakeholders and implementers in iran.