COVID-19 and fertility intentions: a qualitative study in six regions of Russia

Konstantin I. Kazenin ()
Additional contact information
Konstantin I. Kazenin: Russian Academy for National Economy and Public Administration, Moscow, Russia

Population and Economics, 2022, vol. 6, issue 4, 107-122

Abstract: The paper discusses results of a qualitative study conducted in May-June 2021 in six regions of Russia (Astrakhan region, Republic of Bashkortostan, Republic of Kalmykia, Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia, Tomsk region and Yaroslavl region) with the purpose to identify opinions on impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fertility. Focus groups were held in these regions among childless respondents aged below 35. This allowed to observe influence of the pandemic on intentions to become first-time parents which is critically important for fertility tendencies. Although the survey regions differed considerably by fertility rate and age-specific characteristics as well as by socio-cultural characteristics, key results of the focus groups were rather similar across regions. The respondents in all regions very strictly defined income levels necessary for having a child and also stressed out the need for parents to provide positive psychological conditions for their young off-springs. Assessing their abilities to become "high-quality" parents, the informants relied almost only on their own resources, not counting much upon assistance of elder relatives. Under these views, the pandemic was perceived as a serious obstacle for the "high-quality" parenthood. The informants did not expect the state measures of support for families with children to considerably soften this effect of the pandemic.

Keywords: fertility; fertility; intentions; COVID-19; Russia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://populationandeconomics.pensoft.net/article/93480/

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:arh:jpopec:v:6:y:2022:i:4:p:107-122

DOI: 10.3897/popecon.6.e93480

Access Statistics for this article

Population and Economics is currently edited by Irina E. Kalabikhina

More articles in Population and Economics from ARPHA Platform
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Teodor Georgiev ().