Having a Third Child: Predicting Behavioral Intentions

Fifty-nine married women with exactly two children were questioned about their intentions to have a third child. Intentions were strongly related to perceived consequences of a third child as well as to perceived normative beliefs and motivations to comply with these beliefs. Results indicated the utility of Fishbeins behavioral intention model for predicting the intention to have a third child. Findings were contrasted with previous disappointing results in studies of the psychological correlates of fertility and practical implications of the findings for fertility change programs were discussed. (authors)