From intentions to births: paths of realisation in a multi-dimensional life course

The adult lives of women and men are shaped by a wide range of choices and
events pertaining to different life domains. In the literature, however, pregnancy
intentions are typically studied in isolation from other life course intentions. We
investigate the correspondence of birth intentions and outcomes in a life course
cross-domain perspective that includes partnership, education, work, and housing.
Using longitudinal data from the Generations and Gender Surveys, we examine
the matching processes of individuals' birth intentions with subsequent outcomes
in Austria, Bulgaria, France, Hungary, and Lithuania. The results show that the
intention to change residence is directly correlated with having a child among
men and women living in a union, and that the intention to enter a partnership
is correlated with childbearing among single men, but not among single women.
Furthermore, we find that the intention to change jobs is inversely correlated with
an intended childbirth, while it is directly correlated with an unintended childbirth.
These findings suggest that the transition paths from birth intentions to birth
outcomes should encompass a multi-dimensional life course perspective.