Mediating Role of Fertility Motivation in the Impact of Internet Use on Fertility Intentions

Abstract

Abstract: Analysis of the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data reveals that fertility motivations mediate the impact of internet use on fertility intentions. This mediating role operates in two directions. First, internet use diminishes family-oriented fertility motivations, including family legacy and economic utility motivation, suppressing fertility intentions. Second, internet use enhances individual-oriented fertility motivations, particularly emotion-driven motivation, promoting fertility intentions. Overall, the inhibiting role played by fertility motivation is more pronounced in the influence of internet use on fertility intentions. The mediating effect accounts for 11.251% of the total effect. Further, the impact of internet use on fertility motivation differs across cohorts, genders, urban-rural residences, and education levels. The impacts of different online behaviors on fertility motivation are also different. Exploring the mediating role of fertility motivation contributes to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms through which internet use influences fertility intentions, offering novel insights for addressing low fertility rates in the internet era.

Keywords: Fertility Motivation, Fertility Intentions, Internet Use

摘要： 利用中国家庭追踪调查(CFPS)数据分析发现，生育动机在互联网使用对生育意愿的影响中起中介作用，该中介作用存在两种方向:一是互联网使用通过削弱家庭导向型生育动机(包括家庭传承型和经济效用型生育动机)抑制生育意愿；二是互联网使用通过增强个体导向型生育动机(主要是情感喜悦型生育动机)提高生育意愿。生育动机在互联网使用影响生育意愿的过程中起到的抑制作用更大，其中介效应在总效应中的占比为11.251%。此外，互联网使用对生育动机的影响存在着世代、性别、城乡和受教育程度方面的异质性，不同上网行为对生育动机的影响也存在差别。考察生育动机的中介效应，有助于深入理解互联网使用对生育意愿的影响机制，为网络时代应对低生育率问题提供新思路。

关键词: 生育动机, 生育意愿, 互联网使用

Chen Weimin, Wang Youru. Mediating Role of Fertility Motivation in the Impact of Internet Use on Fertility Intentions[J]. Population Research, 2024, 48(2): 44-59.

陈卫民, 王佑茹. 生育动机在互联网使用对生育意愿影响中的中介作用分析[J]. 人口研究, 2024, 48(2): 44-59.

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