Feeling Torn: Ambivalence and Fertility Intentions in Poland

Monika Mynarska , Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw & SGH Warsaw School of Economics
Joanna Lesniak, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw & SGH Warsaw School of Economics

Ambivalence toward parenthood has long been recognised as an important yet underexplored aspect of reproductive decision-making. In the Polish Generations and Gender Survey (GGS-II, wave 1), two complementary perspectives on ambivalence are combined, offering a unique opportunity to examine its multidimensional nature and relationship to uncertainty in childbearing intentions. The Polish GGS includes items that allow for the measurement of structural ambivalence (defined by the coexistence of positive and negative childbearing motivations – reasons for and against having children) and subjective ambivalence (captured by three new national items assessing mixed feelings and perceived conflict between “heart” and “mind”). The GGS also includes a question on short-term fertility intentions, where respondents can show their uncertainty, choosing the middle—“not sure”—option. Using nationally representative GGS data collected in 2025–2026 among adults aged 18–59 (mixed CAWI/CAPI design), the analyses will explore how ambivalence and uncertainty overlap and diverge. We will examine whether individuals who are structurally ambivalent also feel ambivalent, and whether subjective ambivalence translates into greater uncertainty in fertility intentions. Earlier studies based on smaller convenience samples suggested that these dimensions only partially overlap, indicating that subjective ambivalence captures a distinct emotional and cognitive experience. The Polish GGS provides a unique opportunity to verify these findings on a representative sample and to assess the specific role of subjective ambivalence in shaping reproductive uncertainty.

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 Presented in Session 54. Flash Session Fertility, Values and Life Goals