Influence of the spouse on reproductive attitudes and motives

As a micro-level factor, the spouses or partners influence each other’s reproductive intentions, motives, and decisions. This article examines only two areas of influence from a possible spectrum, namely the impact of the nature of the relationship and the other spouse’s position on having children. The empirical basis is the opinion poll “Demographic well-being of Russia”, conducted in 2020 in 10 regions, including Moscow. Respondents, both officially married and being in cohabiting relationship, aged up to 49 years old inclusive (2,776 people) participated in the survey. According to the evaluations of relationships using the criteria of “cohesion”, “conflicts”, and “big quarrels and scandals”, respondents were divided into three groups: the worst (12-16%), average (29-36%), and best (42-53%) evaluations. The most favorable relations are typical of families with a traditional power structure (husband is head of the family), joint management of income (husband and wife make decisions together), better living conditions, and younger age of the spouses. We found that an improvement in relationship estimates was accompanied by an increase in the proportion of those intending to have a child, while a deterioration in the estimates was accompanied by a decrease in the proportion of those intending to have a child. The groups with the most cohesive, conflict-free relationships are the most likely to have children in the coming yeais, and it increases if new family support measures are introduced. In postponing the birth of children of different order, as well as in planning their birth, the position of the other spouse or partner (the desire to postpone having a child or the intention to have one) is one of the most significant motives of reproductive behavior. The importance of motives is conditioned by both favorable and unfavorable relations in families. The results of the study actualize one of the directions of state socio-demographic and family policy - activities to harmonize marital and family relationships and to reduce the influence of a range of factors complicating these relationships, which can have a positive impact on the decision to have children.