Who Plans to Have Children in Times of Uncertainty?
Martin Kreidl presented research examining how the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and rising living costs affected childbearing intentions among women in the Czech Republic. The findings show that willingness to plan a birth during periods of uncertainty declined particularly among women with lower incomes and lower levels of education. In contrast, women with greater economic resources were more likely to maintain optimism and continue planning parenthood despite social and economic crises.
Missing Marriages After the Pandemic
Zuzana Žilinčíková focused on trends in marriage formation across Europe following the COVID-19 pandemic. Her analysis shows that the sharp decline in marriages during the first pandemic years had not been fully compensated for even by 2023. According to the findings, some of the marriages postponed during the pandemic are unlikely ever to take place.
It Matters How Someone Becomes Single
Veronika Sofia Corradi-Eiger presented research on intergenerational support among adult children. The study shows that parents are more likely to support children who have become single due to divorce or widowhood than those who remain single over the long term. The findings highlight the important role of family networks in helping individuals navigate major life transitions.
When the Road to Parenthood Tests a Relationship
Darina Kmentová presented research exploring the relationship between fertility difficulties and partnership stability. An analysis of Czech data shows that unsuccessful attempts to conceive, as well as prolonged periods of trying for a child, increase the risk of separation or divorce. The study contributes to a better understanding of how reproductive experiences shape partners’ life courses.
Vaccination and Fertility: A Correlation or a Myth?
Eva Waldaufová presented findings on the relationship between COVID-19 vaccination and female fertility. Using Czech population-level data, the research demonstrates that differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated women existed even before the pandemic. The observed variations in reproductive behaviour therefore reflect differences in life trajectories and social characteristics rather than any effect of vaccination itself.
The presented studies contribute to a deeper understanding of how economic conditions, health crises, and changing partnership dynamics influence family and reproductive behaviour in contemporary society. Together, they showcase current Czech research at the European Population Conference 2026, one of Europe’s leading conferences in the field of population studies.
The research was carried out within the project “Alone in Everything: Opportunities and Risks of Individualization,” co-funded by the European Union.Martin Kreidl, Zuzana Žilinčíková, Veronika Sofia Corradi-Eiger, and Darina Kmentová are affiliated with the Department of Sociology at the Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University. Eva Waldaufová is affiliated with the Faculty of Science, Charles University.
