| Abstract [eng] |
The research that has been carried out so far, which has revealed the influence of various economic, political, cultural and other factors on fertility, cannot explain why fertility rates are declining in Europe, and also in Lithuania. It is not only objective reasons that influence decisions to have children. They are also linked to people's subjective assessment of the situation and the insecurity they experience. The dissertation aims to reveal the factors that shape subjective perceptions of insecurity and to identify their impact on decisions to (not) have children. The research adopted a qualitative methodology: data from biographical and semi-structured interviews were analysed and thematic analysis was carried out. At the micro-level, educational attainment, employment, financial and material situation of the family, etc. can shape the uncertainty that leads to risk aversion. At the macro level, it can be caused by economic crises, the political situation, globalisation processes, the development of information technology, the specifics of the labour market, etc. The study showed that insecurity is associated with dissatisfaction with the current personal and/or family situation and anxiety about the future. Strong current or projected future insecurity may be associated with risks to the well-being of the family or the future child, thus encouraging postponement of childbearing until insecurity is reduced. |
