Spain: Grandparent help boosts women's (but not men's) fertility plans
Spain: Grandparent help boosts women's (but not men's) fertility plans
A 2022 study (Do I want more if you help me? The impact of grandparental involvement on men’s and women’s fertility intentions by Roberta Rutigliano & Mariona Lozano) finds that married Spanish women who receive childcare support from grandparents are significantly more likely to intend to have another child in the next three years, but this relationship does not hold for married men.
Why it matters
Spain has one of the lowest fertility rates in Europe at 1.3 children per woman as of 2020. This is well below the replacement level of 2.1, despite a stable average desired family size of around 2 children. Understanding factors influencing fertility intentions, especially among those with a child, is crucial for addressing this demographic challenge.
By the numbers:
Grandparent childcare raised women's probability of intending another child by 8.2 percentage points compared to those without support. The effect remained around 3.4-4.4 points and significant across all models controlling for age, partnership status, education, income, and employment.
In contrast, men's fertility intentions were not significantly associated with grandparent help in any specification.
The grandparent effect was strongest for highly educated women (7 points higher than their low-educated counterparts) and those with one child compared to the less-educated and those with 2+ children.
However, the differences between one-child and 2+ child mothers were not statistically significant. 77% of those intending another child were aiming for a second birth. How they did it: The researchers analyzed Spain's 2018 Fertility Survey, focusing on a sample of 640 men and 4,167 women under 46 who were married/partnered and already had biological children. They used logistic regressions to predict the probability of intending to have another child in the next 3 years based on whether the respondent received childcare help from non-resident grandparents.
The big picture
Spain exemplifies the "lowest-low" fertility prevalent in Southern Europe, attributed to limited support for work-family balance. Women face major labor market penalties for motherhood, yet still do the majority of childcare and housework. Extensive grandparent involvement is common given limited public childcare options.
Between the lines
The cross-sectional data cannot verify if grandparent availability actually drives fertility intentions or if those desiring another child are more likely to seek grandparent help. The small male sample may also contribute to the null result.
Zoom in
The authors say the gender differences likely reflect women's greater anticipated costs of childbearing since they are still expected to be the primary caregivers. Men's fertility plans may align with their female partner's constraints. High-educated women may benefit more from grandparent support as they face the largest career penalties for motherhood.
Yes, but
The study relies on intention data, so it cannot confirm if these translate into actual births. It also cannot identify which grandparent provided care (e.g., maternal vs. paternal, grandfather vs. grandmother) or their exact childcare activities and hours.
What's next
Expanding high-quality, affordable public childcare could complement grandparent help and further support working mothers. Policies promoting gender equality in the labor market and household division of labor may also boost fertility by easing the disproportionate burden women face.
The bottom line
In a setting of entrenched low fertility like Spain, grandparents willing to provide childcare can meaningfully increase women's desire for more children—a critical factor for raising birth rates. However, the lack of impact on men's intentions underscores the persistent influence of gendered roles and expectations around parenting. Tackling these disparities is key to a sustainable fertility rebound.