Abstract
BACKGROUND: Global fertility rates have declined in recent decades, with voluntary single-childedness and childlessness (VSCC) emerging as a major social and policy challenge. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify the personal, social, and economic factors influencing married couples' VSCC tendencies in Babol, northern Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 452 married individuals (women aged 18-49 yr, men aged 18-55 yr) from Babol, Iran, were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling methods between August and October 2024. Data collection was conducted online, where the participants were asked to complete the validated 22-item questionnaire on the contributing factors of tendency toward VSCC distributed via social media platforms (WhatsApp and Telegram). RESULTS: The mean VSCC tendency score was 43.0 ± 11.8. Among the 5 domains, the highest mean scores were observed for occupational and social insecurity for the child (63.4 ± 17.6) and inappropriate familial context for childbearing (49.1 ± 11.9), while the lowest was found for social modeling of childlessness (30.6 ± 19.4). Women exhibited a significantly greater tendency toward VSCC compared to men (44.0 ± 12.2 vs. 40.2 ± 10.2; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: VSCC tendencies are shaped by a complex interplay of individual aspirations, relational dynamics, and structural concerns. Among younger couples and women, fears about balancing parenthood with educational and career goals, mistrust in marital relationships, and anxiety about children's future security are prominent. To support informed reproductive decision-making, policy interventions should prioritize affordable childcare, flexible career and education pathways, gender-equitable parenting support, and couple-based counseling services.