A Qualitative Study of the Factors Influencing Childbearing Reluctance: The Impact of Couples’ Emotional Maturity | ||
| فرهنگ مشاوره و روان درمانی | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 08 February 2026 | ||
| Document Type: Research Paper | ||
| DOI: 10.22054/qccpc.2026.89146.3545 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Fahimeh Shadabmehr* 1; Atefeh Heyrat2; Zahra Amanollahi3 | ||
| 1Ph.D. of Counseling, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh Tabataba`i University, Tehran, Iran. | ||
| 2Assistant Professor, Department of Ahl-Al-Bait Studies, Faculty of Theology and Ahl-Al-Bait Studies, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran. | ||
| 3Assistant Professor, Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Alzahra University. Tehran, Iran. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Abstract This study aimed to identify the factors contributing to couples’ reluctance to have children and to examine the influence of their emotional maturity on this decision. Employing a qualitative approach and a phenomenological methodology, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 couples who had consciously decided not to have children. Participants were selected based on predetermined inclusion criteria from the cities of Tehran and Isfahan in 2024. Thematic analysis, following Braun and Clarke’s (2006) framework, was used to analyze the data. The analysis revealed three Central categories, nine Main categories, and 47 subcategories. Key findings highlighted that insufficient emotional regulation skills, limited resilience and sense of responsibility, and poor couple relationship quality were among the most significant factors associated with the reluctance to have children, all closely related to the couples’ levels of emotional maturity. The results suggest that, beyond social and economic influences, couples’ emotional maturity plays a pivotal role in their childbearing decisions. Accordingly, the development of intervention programs aimed at enhancing emotional maturity—particularly emotional skills, resilience, responsibility, and relationship quality—appears essential. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Childbearing; Emotional Maturity; Qualitative Study; Couple Relationships; Phenomenology | ||
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