Does depression matter for fertility intentions and their realisation? An analysis of Norwegian and Swedish men and women in coresidential unions
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 24224858 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Erik Carlsson (0000-0003-1704-2058), Wooseong Kim (0000-0001-9874-446X) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 82 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-09 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Genus (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0016-6987 • E-ISSN: 2035-5556 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1186/s41118-026-00283-6 |
| OpenAlex | W7128427432 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 43 |
Many high-income societies have seen two parallel trends in recent decades: falling fertility rates and an increasing prevalence of mental health issues among young adults. Yet, the association between mental health and fertility remains underexplored, especially with respect to fertility preferences and their realisation. This study examines how depression, one of the most common mental disorders, relates to two fertility outcomes: (1) reporting a positive short-term fertility intention, and (2) realising such an intention. The study uses data from the Norwegian and Swedish Generations and Gender Surveys from 2007/2008 to 2012/2013, together with their register-based follow-ups. To measure depression, we use the 7-item, shortened version of the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D Scale). Results show that depression is negatively associated with the propensity to report a positive fertility intention among Norwegian women and the propensity to realise a positive fertility intention within three years among Swedish women. Among men, depression is not significantly associated with either of the two outcomes. This study contributes new evidence on how depression may influence fertility, advancing the understanding of the determinants of fertility behaviour as well as the consequences of a widespread mental disorder.
CES-D scale · Depression · fertility behavior · fertility intentions · gender differences · Mental health · Norwegian women · Swedish women · Young adults · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Reproductive Health and Contraception · Reproductive Health and Technologies
Changes in the global burden of depression from 1990 to 2017
Trends in U.S. Depression Prevalence From 2015 to 2020
Depression and cardiovascular disease
National Trends in the Prevalence and Treatment of Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults
Evaluating the seven-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale short-form
Depressive symptoms are associated with social isolation in face-to-face interaction networks
The CES-D Scale
Reciprocal associations between parenthood and mental well-being – a prospective analysis from age 16 to 52 years
The Realization of Short-Term Fertility Intentions Among Immigrants and Children of Immigrants in Norway and Sweden
Fertility among Norwegian Women and Men with Mental Disorders
Beyond the Economic Gaze
Longitudinal Associations Between Depressive Symptoms and Quality of Romantic Relationships in Late Adolescence
Low self-esteem as a risk factor for depression
Réalisation et évolution des intentions de fécondité dans quatre pays européens
Own depression, partner's depression, and childlessness
Evidence from Finland and Sweden on the relationship between early-life diseases and lifetime childlessness in men and women
Reciprocal longitudinal associations between depressive symptoms and romantic partners' synchronized view of relationship quality
Disentangling the Swedish fertility decline of the 2010s
Attrition in the Austrian Generations and Gender Survey
| Highly cited | No |
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