One and Done: Having One Child by Choice, Circumstance, or Compromise

Ann Evans, Australian National University
Edith E. Gray, Australian National University
Anna Reimondos, Australian National University

In most western countries a strong two-child norm persists. However, the proportion of parents who have one child only has increased in recent decades. Having one child could be the result of circumstance, such as a delayed age at first birth which leads to a reduced time to transition to a second birth. In some instances, however, the decision to have one child is a deliberate choice or a compromise. Drawing on a rich qualitative dataset, this study explores the contexts in which the decision to have an only child is made intentionally, even before parenthood. Reasons for this decision vary and include financial considerations, the desire to dedicate more time and attention to a single child, and in some cases, as a compromise between partners with differing levels of desire for parenthood. For a partner with a lower desire for children, a ‘one and done’ approach may make parenthood more appealing by minimizing the number of times they must navigate what they may perceive as more challenging stages of parenthood including pregnancy or infancy.

Keywords: Fertility

See extended abstract.