論文外文摘要:
In Taiwan, research on fertility intentions and behavior largely relies on cross-sectional data. Very few studies have examined how individuals’ past life experiences affect their fertility intentions in adulthood and how fertility intentions change over time. To address the limitations in previous studies, based on four waves of panel data from the “Taiwan Youth Project” survey, this thesis explores how factors in different periods affect the changes in young people's fertility intention. The results show that: (1) Marriage and childbearing are still strongly coupled in Taiwan. Compared to singles, marrieds are more likely to intend to have children and the entry into marriage is associated with an enhanced likelihood of wanting children. (2) Consistent with previous studies, there is a positive relationship between income and employment and fertility intentions, showing that the accumulation of economic resources encourages fertility intentions and behavior. (3) The number of children yields a strong negative effect on fertility intention. Those who have already at least one child are much less likely to want an additional child than their childfree counterparts. (4) Other factors, including having lived with grandparents during adolescence, gender ideology, and attitudes toward fertility and children, also have significant impacts on the change in fertility intentions.