The Valued Child. In Search of a Latent Attitude Profile that Influences the Transition to Motherhood L’enfant valorisé. A la recherche de profils latents influençant la procréation du premier enfant

摘要

In this research, a latent class analysis is used to identify latent attitude profiles that influence the transition to the first child. We argue that ideational theories, i.e. the Second Demographic Transition theory and the extended model of Planned Behaviour, often refer to a broad range of attitudes or values that are hypothesized to influence behaviour, and as such describe an attitude or value profile that inhibits vs. fosters the likelihood of motherhood. The results demonstrate the usefulness of a latent class approach and reveal that quite different latent attitude profiles may lead to an increased likelihood of motherhood. However, only one latent attitude profile clearly inhibited the hazard of a first birth, i.e. an egalitarian profile that dissociates with “traditional” views on familistic issues regarding marriage, children, partnership and household roles, and at the same time stresses the importance of autonomy and independence.