Discovery of the Factors Inhibiting Couples from Childbearing in the Last Decade (A Systematic Review)

The present study is aimed at discovering the factors that prevent couples from childbearing. The systematic review method was used in this study. For this purpose, the studies related to childbearing during 10 years (2010-2020) were searched in Scientific Information Database, Comprehensive Portal of Humanities, National Publications Database and Noor Specialized Journals Database using the following four keywords: childbearing, fertility, birth and births. After evaluating the entry and exit criteria in the articles, 39 articles were finally included in the study. The results include the three categories of individual, family and social-environmental factors. Among the individual-cognitive factors, low level of religiosity and parent-centered and child-centered concerns about the future, and among the individual-behavioral factors, modern lifestyle proved to be the most important factors which reduce childbearing. The findings of the study, which show the strong effect of the level of religiosity, couples' concerns about the future and lifestyle on childbearing, indicate that change of beliefs play a prominent role in preventing couples from having children. Therefore, it is suggested that the necessary policies and planning should be developed to improve couples' attitudes and beliefs in the field of family and childbearing by strengthening spiritual values ​​and religiosity, reducing parent-centered and child-centered concerns, improving modern lifestyle, providing appropriate conditions for raising children along with women's participation in social affairs, promotion of paternal and maternal pleasure and reinforcement of family orientedness in order to increase the desire and intention of couples to have children. There should also be more psychological research in this area that focuses on providing solutions using experimental and interventional research methods.