Factors affecting women’s decisions on motherhood during the COVID -19 pandemic

Introduction
Over time, the perception of motherhood in Poland has undergone significant transformation. Contemporary motherhood is understood as every woman’s choice of making decisions related to own reproduction and considering individual important factors. Crisis related to the COVID-19 pandemic could have an additional effect on the fulfilment of motherhood plans. The study objective was to analyze factors affecting delaying women’s decisions on motherhood during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Material and methods
The study was conducted using a diagnostic survey as a research technique, and data were obtained by means of an authorial survey questionnaire and standardized life orientation test. The study included 105 adult women, aged less than or equal to 40 years, who delivered their first-born child.

Results
The most significant factors determining the time to become a mother included satisfaction with relationship with a partner/husband, permanent employment ensuring stable financial situation, and independent residence. It was shown that the percentage of women planning for pregnancy was increasing with age. No significant correlation was observed between education and planning to have a child or preparing for pregnancy. Women having a tendency to pessimism more frequently resigned from having a baby during the COVID-19 pandemic than women with optimistic attitude.

Conclusions
Women’s desire for motherhood is primarily influenced by the association of maternity with a sense of fulfilment. Being in a marital union and owning a flat/house gradually cease to be a necessary condition for decision-making about motherhood. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to females’ sense of anxiety associated with getting pregnant in that period, but it was rarely the cause of postponing the decision on having a child.