Becoming a parent Flashcards
What percentage of pregnancies are unplanned?
45%
This statistic highlights the prevalence of unplanned pregnancies in the population.
What are some impacts of unplanned pregnancies on mothers?
- Obstetric complications due to avoiding prenatal care
- Antenatal and postnatal depression
What are some impacts of unplanned pregnancies on children?
- Birthweight issues
- Mental and physical health problems
- Lower performance in cognitive tasks
What percentage of married couples are pro-children according to Neal et al. (1989)?
30%
This study categorizes couples’ attitudes towards having children.
What are the four attitudes towards parenthood identified by Neal et al. (1989)?
- 30% pro-children
- 30% anti-children
- 20% ambivalent
- 20% indifferent
What is the estimated cost of raising a child to age 18 for a couple?
Nearly £260,000
This figure illustrates the financial burden of parenting.
What is the financial cost of raising a child for a lone parent?
Over £290,000
What is the primary reason for couples to choose a child-free lifestyle?
Varied reasons including age, dislike of kids, lifestyle choice, finances, career, genetic concerns, and ethics.
What was the one-child policy in China intended to achieve?
To prevent approximately 400 million births
This policy was in effect from 1979 to 2015.
What are the implications of China’s one-child policy?
- Reduced population
- Female infanticide
- Lack of partners for men
- Ageing population with reduced care provision
What percentage of couples are childless due to infertility problems?
20%
This statistic reflects the biological challenges some couples face.
What is the success rate of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) procedures?
10%-28%
This highlights the challenges couples face when seeking fertility assistance.
What are teratogens?
Any substance or factor that disturbs the normal development of a foetus and causes birth defects.
Name three teratogens that can affect prenatal development.
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- Infections (e.g., Rubella, Zika virus, Flu)
What is the Barker Hypothesis?
The theory that events during early development significantly impact the risk of later developing adult diseases.
What is the relationship between birth weight and coronary heart disease according to studies?
Lower birth weight is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease in adulthood.
What was the Dutch Hunger Winter, and what impact did it have on prenatal development?
A famine in 1944 that led to increased obesity and cardiovascular diseases in individuals exposed in utero.
What is the Thrifty Phenotype Hypothesis?
Adaptation can be maladaptive when later exposed to an environment of plenty.
What are some effects of high-fat diets during pregnancy on the developing baby?
- Alters the developing brain
- Potential impacts on metabolism regulation
What psychological effects can new parenthood have on mothers?
- Higher BMI
- Increased likelihood of mental health problems (e.g., depression)
What is parental burnout?
Emotional and physical exhaustion, decreased sense of accomplishment in the parental role.
What is colic?
Bouts of inconsolable crying in infants, often with no specific reason.
What are the emotional impacts of colic on parents?
- Anger
- Guilt
- Frustration
- Fear of losing control
True or False: Colic affects attachment between parents and infants.
False
Research indicates that attachment does not appear to be affected by colic.
What is the purpose of the Wide Awake Parenting Program?
To provide psycho-education and strategies to reduce the effects of fatigue in new parents.
What does colic undermine in parents?
Parental self-efficacy
Stifter & Bono, 1998
What effect does colic have on marital satisfaction?
Reduces marital satisfaction
Stifter, 2001
What serious outcome can result from parental stress related to colic?
Shaken Baby Syndrome
Talvik et al., 2008
Does colic affect attachment between parents and children?
No, attachment does not appear to be affected
Stifter & Bono, 1998
What positive feelings do parents report from raising their children?
Increased feelings of meaning and purpose in life, sense of fulfilment
Baumeister et al., 2013; Musick et al., 2016
What percentage of parents cite their relationship with their children as the most fulfilling aspect of their lives?
85%
Taylor et al. 2007
According to Nelson et al. (2013), how do parents compare to non-parents in terms of happiness?
Parents report being happier overall, more positive emotion, greater meaning in life
Nelson et al., 2013
What moderated the relationship between increased satisfaction and happiness for fathers?
Parent gender
Results mirrored in 2019 study (Nelson-Coffey et al.)
What activity do dads report enjoying more with their children?
Playing with the children
Potentially due to the division of labour
What is the overall evidence regarding parent happiness?
Mixed evidence
Parents often report lower levels of happiness compared to non-parents
What factors contribute to lower happiness levels in parents compared to non-parents?
Lower life satisfaction, lower marital satisfaction, lower mental well-being
Alesina et al., 2004; Di Tella et al., 2003; Twenge et al., 2003; Clark & Oswald, 2002
Fill in the blank: Parents often report statistically significantly ______ levels of happiness compared to non-parents.
lower
