Gender differences in marriage and fertility attitudes and fertility intentions among medical students
Yang Ningling
Gao Xingjing
Peng Xin
Liu Yi
Liu Qin
Zhang Fan
Abstract：Objective To explore the current status and gender differences in marriage and fertility attitudes and fertility in-tentions among medical students,providing data support for predicting the future marital and family status and trends of Chinese healthcare workers.Methods A convenience sampling method was used to conduct a questionnaire survey among 920 medical students from a medical school in Chongqing between December 2023 and March 2024.The questionnaire con-sisted of two parts:a general information survey and a youth marriage and fertility attitude scale.SPSS 27.0 software was used for statistical analysis.Univariate analysis was performed using t-tests and ANOVA,while multivariate analysis was conducted using linear regression.Results Regarding marriage and fertility attitudes,male students scored relatively lower on the subscales of marital relationship compatibility and marital role compatibility(t=-2.178,P=0.030;t=-12.305,P＜0.001).Female students scored relatively lower on the subscales of psychological resource equivalence,external physio-logical resource equivalence,sexual physiological resource equivalence,and social resource equivalence(t=2.980,P=0.003;t=7.891,P＜0.001;t=2.301,P=0.022;t=6.465,P＜0.001).In terms of fertility intentions,the ideal num-ber of children for male and female students was 1.19±0.88 and 0.66±0.80,respectively,showing a statistically signifi-cant difference(t=9.401,P＜0.001).Linear regression analysis indicated that support for low-fertility culture was an in-fluencing factor for male students'fertility intentions,while awareness of national marriage and fertility policies was an in-fluencing factor for female students'fertility intentions(P＜0.05).Age,family structure,and awareness of national mar-riage and fertility policies were influencing factors for male students'marriage and fertility attitudes,while family education-al background,intergenerational support from parents,and support for low-fertility culture were influencing factors for fe-male students'marriage and fertility attitudes(P＜0.05).Conclusion Gender differences in marriage and fertility attitudes and fertility intentions remain among medical students,influenced by a combination of family,social,and other factors.It is imperative for families and schools to work together to strengthen positive guidanceand foster constructive marriage and fer-tility attitudes to address the challenge of low fertility intentions among medical students.
Keywords：Medical studentsMarriage and fertility attitudesFertility intentionsGender differences
Publication Date：2024-11-28
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：9( 1-8,42 )