New research by the Australian Institute of Family Studies has found that one fifth of women surveyed said their plans for having children had been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The majority of this cohort (92 per cent) said they had chosen to delay having children.
The Families in Australia: Towards COVID Normal study also found more than one in 10 women surveyed had been trying for a first or additional child before the pandemic, but 18 per cent had ceased trying to conceive at least partly because of the pandemic.
Lead researcher on the study, Lixia Qu said it was not surprising that women’s attitudes towards pregnancy and fertility were impacted by the pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic brought on a lot of uncertainty, so it makes sense that some women have reshaped their views about having children,” Dr Qu said.
“The study showed that financial security played a significant role in women’s decisions around conceiving, with 62 per cent of respondents who had stopped trying to conceive during COVID-19 having suffered employment loss.”
Dr Qu said when it came to decisions around pregnancy and raising children, financial security was one of the most important parts of the decision-making process for many potential parents.
“They want to feel confident they can provide for their future family and, unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to financial difficulties and concerns for some people,” she said.
Dr Qu said the study found that for women without children, younger women (in their late 20s) were more likely than older women (in their 30s) to report they would delay having children and that they would have fewer children as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For older women, there is a declining chance to conceive associated with age, making them less inclined than women in their 20s to delay pregnancy,” she said.
“Everyone’s circumstances are different and, for some, the increased time spent at home and around their partner encouraged them to bring forward their plans to conceive, while others were motivated by plans such as weddings and travel being cancelled and opted to have children instead,” Dr Qu said.
The 9-page Report can be accessed at this PS News link.
