a sociological study of the factors influencing women's fertility preferences

the subject of this article is sociological explication of the social factors influencing fertility preferences of women in kerman, iran. the research method is survey and the data collection instrument is a questionnaire. the sample, selected through the cluster sampling method, consisted of 342 married women working in state agencies in kerman, iran. the findings revealed the highest correlation between the respondents’ negative attitudes towards the future of society (0.51) and fertility preferences. then the share of individualism (-0.305), profiteering (-0.24), attitude towards children (0.29), rationalism (-0.16) and marital satisfaction (0.28) were calculated. extent of reading, education, income and use of the media indirectly impact on women's fertility preferences. based on the findings, the most significant factor influencing women’s fertility preferences is their negative attitude towards the future which is indirectly affected by income (0.42), the extent of using the media (0.33) and rate of education (0.39). it is suggested that women’s attitude towards fertility should be made positive and that having a materialistic attitude towards childbearing should be stopped by focusing on the spiritual dimension of childbearing and underlining heartwarming messages in the media and universities.