Social psychological modelling of fertility intentions

Initial results from the REPRO project show that the theory of planned behavior from social psychology provides a good explanation of fertility intentions in five European countries. After controlling for age, union status and education, Attitudes to positive outcomes explain women's intentions to have a second child in Bulgaria, Russia, Georgia, Germany and France. Attitudes to negative outcomes and Subjective norms also have a significant effect in all countries except France. Perceived behavioral control has a significant effect only in the former Soviet bloc countries. Future comparative modelling will require a common measurement base, and early structural equation models and item response theory models are demonstrated as possible approaches to common measurement