Subscribe to Human Interest UpdatesChildless Women No Less Happy
April 14, 2007 04:16 PM
by
findingDulcinea Staff
A report by U.S. social researchers finds that having children does not substantially improve a woman’s psychological well-being later in life.
30 Second Summary
The presence of a significant other is more important to a woman’s happiness than children, according to the study's findings.
Researchers looked at women between the ages of 51 and 61. Most were young adults in the 1950s, when women had more children and had them earlier in life.
Although the childless women as a whole reported being somewhat less happy, when the researchers factored in socioeconomic characteristics and marital status, there was no difference in terms of well-being between the two groups.
The rate of childlessness among women over 40 is now 20%, having doubled between 1980 and 1998. The study shows that their situation needn't be thought depressing.
Women who had children before age 19 were the group found least happy, by and large. Those who became mothers after 25 were the most content.
The research found that the childless women were as happy with their lives as women who gave birth between 19 and 24, the usual childbearing age for their generation.
Researchers looked at women between the ages of 51 and 61. Most were young adults in the 1950s, when women had more children and had them earlier in life.
Although the childless women as a whole reported being somewhat less happy, when the researchers factored in socioeconomic characteristics and marital status, there was no difference in terms of well-being between the two groups.
The rate of childlessness among women over 40 is now 20%, having doubled between 1980 and 1998. The study shows that their situation needn't be thought depressing.
Women who had children before age 19 were the group found least happy, by and large. Those who became mothers after 25 were the most content.
The research found that the childless women were as happy with their lives as women who gave birth between 19 and 24, the usual childbearing age for their generation.
Headline
“Whether a woman has had children or not isn’t likely to affect her psychological well-being later in life,” said University of Michigan sociologist Amy Pienta. “What is more important is whether or not she has a husband, a significant other or close social relationships.”
Source: The University of Michigan
Report
“We find few differences [in terms of psychological well-being] among childless women but lower well-being among early mothers, related to singlehood and poorer socioeconomic status,” states the abstract for the report into the implications of childlessness for women. The full article is available online for a fee.
Source: The International Journal of Aging and Human Development
Related Links
We are used to pundits worrying that America is falling behind other countries economically, says the Nation, which asks whether the United States is falling behind in terms of caring for mothers and their children. Save the Children’s “Mother’s Index” ranks America 26th out of 141 countries.
Source: The Nation
The Mother’s Index is compiled from statistics for the health and well-being of mothers and children. Out of 141 countries, 41 are developed nations. Sweden is the best place to be a mother, and Italy the best place for children (America ranks 13th on the Children’s Index).
Source: Save the Children
Opinion
Editor of online magazine Married No Kids, historian Kim Kenney has a very clear idea why more women are choosing to be child free: “Because we are now realizing that we have a CHOICE.”
Source: Married No Kids
Childfree.net states that its reason for being is that “childfree-by-choice is rather frowned upon by our kidcentric society, [so] finding information (or links to information) is difficult.”
Source: Childfree.net
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