Running head: REPRODUCTIVE INTENTIONS The Road to Parenthood is Paved with Intentions: Incorporating Anticipated Regret into the Theory of Planned Behaviour to Explain Reproductive Intentions

Demographic trends in Canada are changing, resulting in an aging population. The current birth rate has decreased to a level of 1.6 children per woman, which is below the replacement rate of 2.1 children per woman and the desired birth rate of 2.7 children per woman. Understanding how people make reproductive decisions is important in gaining an understanding of these changing trends. The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) is a theoretical model designed to predict and explain intentional behaviour. According to the TPB, behaviours are influenced by the beliefs underlying behaviour. These beliefs are categorized as attitudinal beliefs, social normative beliefs, and personal control beliefs. Focus groups were conducted with 22 undergraduate university students in order to examine the applicability of the TPB in regards to fertility intentions and to understand the attitudinal, normative, and control beliefs of emerging adults regarding having children or remaining childfree. The concept of anticipated regret was included in the discussion questions as it has been shown to be a powerful affective determinant of behaviour but has not been examined in regards to reproductive intentions. Examination of behavioural, normative, and control beliefs about parenting and remaining childfree identifie