Frontiers of self-realisation. How (un)certainty and imaginaries shape fertility intentions in Italy and Norway.

This article examines how uncertainty and post-materialist values influence fertility intentions in Italy and Norway, challenging the notion that these factors straightforwardly lead to low fertility or childlessness. Using a qualitatively driven mixed-methods survey of 837 partnered heterosexual respondents, the study identifies both hindering and enabling factors affecting decisions about having children. It finds that economic uncertainty predominantly hinders fertility intentions in Italy, while ideals of self-realisation and concerns about freedom are more salient obstacles in Norway. Importantly, the research highlights diverse "children imaginaries," including viewing children as "choice, pleasure, and social anchor," which can enable fertility intentions by integrating parenthood with personal fulfilment rather than opposing it. These findings suggest that fertility decisions are shaped by complex, context-specific narratives that go beyond simple economic or cultural explanations.