Session Name: Fertility, Reproduction and Asia's Next Generation
Communication Process of Decision Making for Millennial Couples in Choosing Childfree or Not
Monday, July 29, 2024
11:15 – 13:00 (GMT+7)
Paper Abstract: This research focuses on communication and the decision-making of millennial married couples in deciding childfree choices in married life. This study refers to the stages of decision making within a family by Kieren, Maguire, and Hurlbut which consist of the problem identification stage, the alternative selection stage, the agreement formation stage, and the decision-making stage. This study uses a qualitative approach and descriptive type with data collection methods in the form of in-depth interviews. Based on the research results, it is known that each couples have its uniqueness so it goes through a different decision-making process. For couples who choose to adopt childfree, the decision-making process takes a long time and involves interactive discussions between them. Meanwhile, for couples who choose to have children, the discussion process is more relaxed and requires a short amount of time. Decisions made by couples that adopt childfree tend to involve third parties, but these decisions are difficult for families and others to accept. The process of decision making for couples choosing to be childfree is influenced by several factors, including philosophical, psychological, financial, and even environmental. The most essential thing in decision-making is communication between partners so that they better understand each other and maintain the relationship's harmony.