The global trend of declining fertility rates, recognized by institutions like the UNFPA, is particularly acute in Iran, where the rate has remained persistently below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman for over two decades. This sustained low fertility poses a significant long-term demographic challenge, leading to rapid population aging and a shrinking active workforce, which in turn threatens future economic development and social sustainability.



To understand this shift, researchers turn to key sociological frameworks. The Second Demographic Transition (SDT) theory posits that in modern, secure societies with accessible contraception, childbearing transforms from a biological or social inevitability into a matter of personal choice. Fertility decisions become increasingly influenced by individual preferences, values, and self-actualization goals. This aligns with Ronald Inglehart's Theory of Post-Materialist Values, which argues that as societies achieve economic and physical security, collective values evolve from a focus on material survival and economic gain (materialist values) towards an emphasis on autonomy, quality of life, self-expression, and personal fulfillment (post-materialist values). Within this value system, having many children often becomes a lower priority compared to pursuing education, careers, personal hobbies, and high-quality relationships.



Beyond these macro-level societal shifts, micro-level psychological factors are crucial. A growing body of research indicates that an individual's personality traits, as defined by the established Five-Factor Model (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism), are systematically linked to fertility desires and behaviors. For instance, high Extraversion and Agreeableness are often associated with a greater desire for children, possibly due to the social rewards and family-oriented nature of parenting. Conversely, high Neuroticism (emotional instability) is frequently linked to lower fertility intentions, likely because individuals high in this trait may perceive parenthood as an overwhelming source of stress and uncertainty. However, the findings are not always consistent across cultures and genders, and the relationship is not direct.



This complexity suggests the presence of mediating psychological mechanisms. One critical proposed mediator is an individual's decision-making style. The theory is that personality traits predispose individuals to favor certain styles of processing information and making life choices, which then directly influence how they approach the major decision of whether and when to have children. Using Scott and Bruce's (1995) model, we can hypothesize how this works: A person high in Neuroticism might default to an avoidant style, delaying or evading the childbearing decision due to anxiety. Someone high in Conscientiousness might adopt a rational style, meticulously weighing the costs and benefits of parenthood. A person with low openness might rely on a dependent style, heavily influenced by family or social pressures. These cognitive-behavioral patterns act as the pathway through which underlying personality dispositions ultimately manifest in specific fertility intentions and behaviors.



Despite the clear theoretical links, there is a notable research gap, especially within non-Western contexts like Iran. Few studies have empirically tested this integrated model where personality traits influence fertility outcomes through their effect on decision-making processes. Furthermore, studying specific professional groups, such as teachers, who are educated and play a key social role, can offer valuable insights.



Therefore, this research seeks to address this gap by investigating the complex relationships between the Five-Factor personality traits, decision-making styles (rational, dependent, avoidant, intuitive, spontaneous), and the inclination towards childbearing. The central question is whether decision-making styles serve as a significant mediating mechanism, helping to explain how personality influences the intention to have children. The study will focus on teachers in Fars Province, Iran, with the aim of providing a more nuanced psychological understanding of low fertility trends, which can inform more effective and culturally sensitive social and family policies.



Methods: This applied study employed a descriptive–correlational design using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population consisted of all married female teachers working in schools in Fars Province during the 2024–2025 academic year. A total of 269 participants were selected through multistage cluster sampling. Data were collected using the NEO Five-Factor Inventory, the Scott and Bruce Decision-Making Styles Questionnaire, and the Childbearing Orientation Questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using Pearson correlation coefficients and SEM. The indirect effects were tested using the bootstrap method with 5,000 resamples at a 95% confidence level.

Results

The results indicated that the proposed model demonstrated a good fit to the data. Personality traits and decision-making styles together explained 20% of the variance in childbearing orientation. Neuroticism and openness to experience showed significant negative relationships with childbearing orientation, whereas extraversion was positively associated with it. Rational and avoidant decision-making styles were negatively related to childbearing orientation. Bootstrap analysis confirmed that decision-making styles significantly mediated the relationships between neuroticism and openness to experience with childbearing orientation, while no significant indirect effects were found for extraversion, agreeableness, or conscientiousness.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that the relationship between personality traits and childbearing orientation is not direct and linear but operates partly through decision-making styles. Personality traits such as neuroticism and openness to experience influence how individuals approach fertility-related decisions, which in turn shapes their orientation toward childbearing. These results highlight the importance of addressing psychological and decision-making processes in fertility-related counseling and population policies. Interventions aimed at promoting adaptive decision-making strategies may help individuals make more informed and emotionally balanced choices regarding childbearing.