Birth rates have been falling in the past half century in Britain and have now reached a historic low. The recent decline has been sudden and larger than expected. The reasons for this most recent decline are not fully understood. It appears the factors that influence having children have changed and attention has shifted to social-structural and institutional factors.
Low birth rates may be a concern, particularly if there is a growing fertility gap where people have fewer children than they would ideally like. Below replacement level fertility results in proportionately fewer people in the prime working age groups which impacts pension funds, for example, and means more pressure on social and health services. Falling birth rates can also impact individuals. Being involuntarily childless, or having a smaller than preferred number of children, has a negative effect on wellbeing, quality of life and relationship stability. It is therefore important to understand if the current low birth rates reflect changing preferences about having children or if they result from a compromise between what people would like and what they feel is possible. These two scenarios require a different societal response so it is important to discover what is underlying the current trend.
In the FIESTA study we aim to examine some of the factors underlying these trends and to explore ways in which men and women might be supported in achieving their optimal fertility goals. The study comprises three components. In the first, an analysis of data from the third and fourth British National Surveys of Sexual Lifestyles (Natsals 3 and 4) we will examine differences between groups of people based on their current fertility status and their future intentions. In the second, in-depth interviews will be conducted with selected respondents from Natsal 4 to explore considerations underlying their fertility intentions and outcomes. In the third component, key stakeholders in the fields of health and social policy will be consulted on possible ways of supporting individuals in achieving the fertility preferences.
Emma
Slaymaker
Associate Professor
Kaye
Wellings
Professor of Sexual and Reproductive Health
Emily Grundy
co-investigator
Nour
Horanieh
Research Fellow
Sarah
Mulwa
Research Fellow
As part of the Fiesta study we would like to interview some of the people who took part in the Natsal-4 survey (conducted between 2022 and 2024). We will select people who took part in that survey and who said they would be willing to participate in future studies. Those selected for interview will be sent a letter inviting them to participate in this new study.
Why are we doing this study?
At present, people in Britain are having fewer children than in the past, and more people are having none at all. The team is interested to understand the reasons behind this. They want to know if people feel able to have the number of children they would like and to learn how and why people make decisions about whether to have children and how many to have. The results from the study will be presented to people who make policies that might affect decisions about having children and to those who plan and provide relevant services.
What does the study involve for potential participants?
The research team would like to speak to people about their plans for having children, how these have changed over their lifetime and the things that influenced their decisions. This would involve taking part in a 60-90 minute interview with a trained researcher over the telephone, via video call or, if preferred, in person in a place of their choice.
The privacy notice for this study (pdf) explains how we look after the data provided to us as part of the study.