Why and when choosing child-free life in Sweden? Reasons, influencing factors and personal and societal factors: Individual interviews during 2020-2021.

Few studies have examined a voluntarily child-free life in the Nordic countries. The aim of this study was to explore reasons, influencing factors, and personal and social factors in individuals who chose to lead a child-free life in Sweden.Twenty-three individual interviews were conducted during 2020-2021, and data were analysed through thematic network analysis.The organising themes captured how the informants discovered pathways and managed social structures to feel certain in their decision to lead a child-free life. The informants highlighted freedom, independence and governing their own time in everyday life and acknowledged the younger generation as being more open-minded towards child-free individuals.All the informants, who had chosen to lead a child-free life, were confident in their decision. They appreciated living in a country where it was possible to make this personal and important life choice independently. Further knowledge is needed about remaining child-free.