Objective(s): Childbearing is a major social and demographic issue influenced by a wide range of cultural, economic, and social factors. In Iran, shifts in attitudes and cultural values, particularly among young adults and university students, have contributed to a decline in fertility intentions. This study aimed to investigate students' attitudes at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences toward childbearing and to identify factors associated with these attitudes.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 among 470 students enrolled in the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Paramedical Sciences and Rehabilitation, Public Health, and Traditional and Complementary Medicine at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Participants were selected using a stratified sampling method. Data were collected using a standardized Childbearing Attitude Questionnaire that assesses four dimensions: economic, socio-cultural, religious, and physical-identity-related. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 2016. Independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and regression analysis were applied, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.
Results: Of the participants, 51% were female, 78% were single, and 53% were studying medicine. The mean overall childbearing attitude score was 179.08 (SD = 29.13), with a median score of 174. Positive attitudes toward childbearing were observed in 41.8% of students. Married students demonstrated significantly more favorable attitudes than single students in the religious, socio-cultural, and overall attitude dimensions, whereas divorced students reported the lowest scores, particularly in the economic dimension. Female students scored significantly higher than males in the economic and socio-cultural dimensions as well as in the overall attitude score; however, no significant gender differences were found in the religious and physical-identity-related dimensions. Non-medical students exhibited higher overall and religious attitude scores compared with medical students. Regression analysis identified the number of children and field of study as significant factors associated with overall attitudes toward childbearing.
Conclusion: Students’ attitudes toward childbearing were significantly influenced by parental experience and field of study. Married students, females, and non-medical students demonstrated more positive attitudes toward childbearing. Given the relatively unfavorable attitudes observed and the predominance of economic concerns, the development of financial incentives and psychosocial support programs, particularly for single, divorced, and male students who exhibited less favorable attitudes, appears warranted.