Does Grandparental Childcare Availability Affect Women’s Fertility Intention? Evidence from Chinese Female Migrants in Spain.

Mengyao Wu , University of Salamanca
Alberto Del Rey Poveda , University of Salamanca

Grandparental investment has become an important form of intergenerational support in Chinese families. Recent research reveals that the availability of grandparent-provided childcare has a positive influence on young children’s fertility as it improves women’s compatibility between work and family. Nevertheless, few studies have investigated such effect on migrant groups, whose fulfillment of parenthood responsibilities is even more challenged by their immigration status. Thus, our study aims to examine the extent to which grandparents’ childcare provision is associated with Chinese female immigrants’ fertility decisions in Spain. We conducted 28 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with women who were born between the 1970s and 1990s, and who have a nuclear family in Spain. Our preliminary findings show that the availability of grandparents’ investment positively affected women’s fertility intentions and fertility behavior for another birth, as the extended family provides not only practical resources but also emotional support.

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 Presented in Session P1. Postercafe