The Use of Sexually Explicit Internet Material and Fertility Intention among Chinese Female Youths: A Life History Theory Approach

Background Global fertility rates are declining, with internet use as a potential contributing factor. According to Life History Theory, childhood unpredictability may promote faster life strategies, including permissive sexual attitudes that could reduce parenting motivation. However, the role of sexually explicit internet material (SEIM) as a modern behavioral pathway linking early-life experiences to explicit fertility intentions remains unexplored, particularly in culturally conservative contexts. This study examines the serial mediation of SEIM use and permissive attitudes between childhood unpredictability and fertility intentions among Chinese female youths. Methods A sample of 2049 Chinese female youths ( aged 17–24) completed the Childhood Unpredictability Scale, SEIM Use Questionnaire, Permissive sexual attitudes Scale and Fertility Intentions Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 and Hayes’ PROCESS macro (Model 6) to test correlations, regression, and mediation effects. Results The results generally supported the applicability of the models. The SEIM use and permissive sexual attitudes were significant mediators of the relationship between childhood unpredictability and three fertility intention indices: fertility willingness, ideal number of children, and ideal childbearing age. Conclusions The findings suggest that, in modern life, technology such as the Internet may act as an emergent mediator, linking childhood environment influences to the trade-offs of different reproductive strategies. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.