The role of work–family conflict and enrichment in second-birth intentions: comparing Finnish mothers and fathers

Findings on the relationship between work–family reconciliation and subsequent childbearing are inconsistent, and research on fathers’ experiences and positive work–family reconciliation is limited. This study addresses these gaps by investigating the extent to which first-time parents’ experiences of work-to-family and family-to-work conflict (WFC and FWC) and enrichment (WFE and FWE) are associated with their second-birth intentions and whether these associations differ between mothers and fathers. We used cross-sectional survey data collected from 180 employed Finnish first-time parents (72 mothers, 108 fathers) 18 months postpartum. The results of the multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that WFC or FWC were not associated with second-birth intentions among all parents. However, comparisons between mothers and fathers revealed, surprisingly, that higher FWC was associated with a higher probability of intending to have another child for mothers. Moreover, among all parents, higher WFE was associated with an increased probability of being unsure about second-birth intentions. Finally, higher FWE was related to a higher probability of intending to have a second child among fathers. These findings indicate that work–family conflict does not constrain Finnish parents’ plans for a second child, while work–family enrichment, stemming from family life, can encourage fathers to continue childbearing.