Childbearing as Continuity and Meaning: A Mixed-Methods Study of Social and Psychological Motivations in Eastern Türkiye

Abstract

This study investigates overt and latent motivations for childbearing among married individuals in southeastern Turkey—a region marked by strong patriarchal norms and economic disadvantage. Using a mixed-methods triangulation design, the research combines quantitative data from 399 participants with qualitative insights from 30 interviews. Findings show that motivations are shaped by fertility attitudes, gender, education, income, family type, and child loss. While economic value declines, children retain strong social and emotional meaning—especially as boys symbolize lineage and girls represent emotional closeness. These gendered and cultural constructs significantly influence reproductive decisions. The study underscores the need for culturally attuned fertility policies and highlights the importance of integrating social meaning into reproductive health programs in traditional communities.