The Influence of Relational Mobility on Fertility Intention: The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Resource Availability

The global decline in fertility rates highlights the critical need to enhance individuals' fertility intentions. Using the socio-ecological perspective, we reveal a largely overlooked yet crucial socio-ecological factor that influences individuals' fertility intentions. Specifically, we propose that relational mobility serves as a precursor to fertility intention. Four studies using different operationalisations of relational mobility provided convergent support for this idea. Study 1 and Study 2 indicated that relational mobility positively predicted fertility intention by separately using national representative data and a survey approach. Study 3 replicated these results in an experimental setting and demonstrated the causal effect of relational mobility on fertility intention. Study 4 further revealed that this effect was driven by perceived social resource availability. Our findings add to the literature on fertility intention and relational mobility. Moreover, policymakers can consider boosting individuals' fertility intentions by improving the relational mobility of the environment in which they reside or by activating individuals' perceptions of high relational mobility in their immediate societies.