The prediction of Rabin’s categories of motivation for parenthood

Abstract

The investigation was caried out in order to construct scales for predicting Rabin’s categories of motivation for parenthood. The obtained scales for altruistic, fatalistic, narcissistic and instrumental motivation have a solid reliability. The Cronbach alpha has the values below in the given order: .88, .92, .75, .93. The structure of the altruistic, fatalistic and narcissistic motivation is single-factored while the scale of instrumental motivation for parenthood consists of four factors: 1. self- confirmation; 2. continuation of the family line; 3. safeguarding the marriage; 4. patriotic motivation. The investigation confirmed the theoretical expectation that femininity, understood as the principle of behaviour directed towards others, as caring and the need for mutuality, is a good predictor for all the categories of motivation for parenthood, while externality shows itself to be a significant predictor of, especially, fatalistic motivation for parenthood. Educational level also turns out to be a significant predictor. Age is a good predictor of altruistic, while gender is a good predictor of fatalistic and instrumental motivation. Satisfaction with family life and the economic conditions of the family have not shown themselves to be significant predictors for any category of motivation for parenthood.