child free Flashcards
couples views on having kids
advantages-
full family life/ accomplishment/ excitement/ source of love and affection/ spiritual fulfilment/ establishes maturity
disadvantages- impacts employment/ conflict can arise/ financial instability/ overpopulation/ worry and tension/ can have negative effects on health
Neal et al., (1989)
A study involving 981 adults in Michigan found that, after adjusting for demographic factors, there were no significant differences in life satisfaction between childfree individuals and parents. However, childfree participants tended to have more liberal political views, and both parents and those desiring children felt less warmth toward childfree individuals compared to how childfree individuals viewed each other. - nEAL 2021
stats on pregnancies-
45% of pregnancies are unplanned
* 1/3 of births in England are unplanned or associated with ambivalence
(Public Health England, 2018).
* Many children ‘unwanted’ and at risk for later problems/ disorders, e.g., attachment; psychological; social
Married couples’ attitudes towards children (Neal et al., 1989): * 30% pro-children
* 30% anti-children
* 20% ambivalent * 20% indifferent
having children a time of crisis?
- Fundamental life change: Babies alter sleeping, eating,
working - Complete role change: identity
- Revisit issues from own childhood
- Huge financial cost:
* Raising a child to age 18 costs nearly £260,000 for a couple and
over £290,000 for a lone parent (Child Poverty Action Group, 2024).
* Childcare is a key driver of increased costs for in-work families –
comprises 60% of the lifetime cost of a child, compared to 40% in 2012.
* Costs of raising children beyond 18
* Costs of raising multiple children
* Costs of maternal loss of employment
this report expresses the extent to which
women, by opting out of employment,
moving to part time work or to jobs with lower
occupational status, ‘downgrade’ their careers following
childbirth. ”Harkness et al. (2019)
child free by choice-
Child-free not child-less
* Germany – 25% couples are childfree * USA – 7% couples are childfree
* Reasons
* Age, dislike kids, lifestyle choice, finances, career, possible known
genetic defects, ethics. * Voluntary Human Extinction Movement – promotes childless
increasing in england and wales- more women childfree by age of 30- guardian graphic 2020
abidin et al., 2022- According to field research, the relationship between married couples who do not have any children is found to be a healthy one
blackstone et al., 2012=
why? When examining why some adults remain voluntarily childless, explanations range from the impact of maco-social forces such as women’s increasing labor force participation to micro-level motivations such as autonomy and freedom. Predominantly, explanations for increasing rates of voluntary childlessness focus on key social changes such as the feminist movement of the 1970s, increased reproductive choice, and women’s increasing labor force participation (Gillespie 2003
child free not by choice/ child less
20% couples are childless due to infertility problems
(ONS, 2010) > Complex reproductive system. * Most don’t choose to be infertile BUT lifestyle choices can
play a part. * Delaying having a family past peak birthing years (<38yrs) * Link with poor lifestyle (Domar, 2004) and TV viewing and low
sperm count (Gaskins et al., 2012) * Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) procedures
have a 10%-28% success rate = £££
* CBT helps: 43% IVF success rate, versus 17% (Domar, 2004)
