Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 95 No. 1, 2025.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.53745/bs.95.1.8
The Impact of Religiosity and Family Background on Fertility Intentions. A Case Study of the Student Population in Croatia
Monika Komušanac
orcid.org/0000-0002-3131-6679
; Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
This study examines the attitudes of the student population in Croatia towards fam ily, marriage, and children, based on a quantitative survey approach as the primary research method. The study involved 683 students currently studying in Croatia. The aim of the research was to determine the impact of religiosity and family background on the fertility patterns of students who have yet to contemplate marriage and parenthood. In this context, the study focused on students’ attitudes towards the importance of family, the desirability of marriage, and fertility intentions (desired number of children). The research tested the hypothesis of a predominantly positive relationship between religiosity and family background in shaping the demographic reproductive behaviour patterns among the student population. Additionally, one of the objectives was to explore the causes of potential fertility gaps, i.e., deviations from initial fertility intentions, considering economic, social, political, and other circumstances in Croatia. The study contributes to a better understanding of students’ general fertility intentions, taking into account two significant factors: the level of religiosity and the family background from which the students come.
Keywords
Croatia; fertility; family; religiosity; students
Hrčak ID:
330355
URI
Publication date:
25.4.2025.
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