How Religious Affiliation and Religiosity Affect Fertility

The following chapter theorizes the association between individual religiosity and completed fertility in order to be able to explain the expected effects. Section 3.3 has already summarized studies that analyze the influence of religious affiliation and religiosity on birth behavior. The findings document a positive impact. The theoretical approach tries to take account of a variety of factors that matter in the context of fertility behavior and decisions. 4.1 presents the mechanisms that are usually applied to explain the affinity for a higher number of children as well as higher birth rates among affiliates across religious traditions. Section 4.2 summarizes denominationspecific behavior-regulating practices. They may influence fertility behavior as one major secular consequence of religiosity.