Exam 2 Flashcards
What is driving the increase in number of different “Pathways to Parenthood” that Amato’s research found?
The fact that there are now more pathways available to parenthood; as the typical pathway to family formation has changed (Used to be: Finish school, find a job in the workforce, get married in early 20’s and then have a child)
Of the 7 “Pathways to Parenthood” Amato found, describe the single one of the 7 that is most common.
Continue schooling, begin to work for increasing number of hours until full time work has been achieved, no family formation
Why are parents motivated to become parents (& what is most common reason)?
1 reason become parent: Love & establish close relationship
Other reasons:
– Exciting to watch child grow
– Achieve adult status
– Sense of creativity
– Moral responsibility
– Self‐development: learn responsibility, sensitivity
– Utility: adult child cares for older parent, helps with family business, etc.
How common is it for mothers to become pregnant in the first month of trying to conceive?
20%
What fraction of US children were actively planned for: parents trying to conceive at time of conception?
2/3 of US children were planned for
According to physicians, how soon should prospective parents be concerned about infertility (no conception within what length of time trying to become pregnant?)
Doctors will usually consider infertility as probable after 12 months of unprotected sex
When couples have difficulty getting pregnant (conceiving) what does the data say about the proportion of father/mother causing the infertility?
40% father causes; 40% mother causes; 20% both
If adults find they are infertile, what are their options to assist in conception & what is/are most common?
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
Artificial insemination: Dad/other sperm introduced to uterus w/o intercourse
&/or Hormone treatment to stimulate mom’s ovaries to produce egg
What are the trends over the past 50 years in mothers’ age when they have their first child?
Average age of mother when having first child has risen (1970: 21 Today: 26)
What percentage of mothers have their first child after the mother has turned 35 years old?
22%
What are risk/protective factors for parents/children when parents are over 35 at birth of first child?
Protective Factors: • Lower divorce rate after child’s birth • More financially stable • More education • More attentive/sensitive to child
Risk Factors:
• Higher rate of pregnancy complications
– High blood pressure, gestational diabetes, low birth weight baby
– Labor/delivery: preeclampsia, placenta previa, difficult labor
– Miscarriage (~15% @ 25, ~25% @ 35, ~50% @ 45) & Stillbirth
• Increased genetic abnormalities for fetus (e.g. Downs Syndrome)
• Father over 40 risks: miscarriage; child w/autism, schizophrenia.
Regarding % of US babies are born to unmarried mothers, what is the ~50 year trend? - has this % remained stable, increased, decreased?
The 50 year trend indicates a large increase in the amount of babies who are born to unmarried mothers (40% today as opposed to 5%~ in 1960)
What is the relationship between SES and likelihood of being an unmarried mother at time of child’s birth?
Higher income
• 92% of children with family‐combined income $75K/yr live w/2parents who WERE married at time of child’s birth
Lower income
• 80% of children with family income ~$18K/yr live w/1 parent who NOT married at time of child’s birth
Has the percentage of adolescents giving birth increased, decreased, or remained about the same over the past 50 years?
The percentage of adolescents giving birth has decreased over the past 50 years
9.5% of teens 1960
~3% of teens 2012
What are the risk and protective factors for children/mothers with adolescent mothers?
Risk factors: Increase risk Child has medical, physical, emotional, Social &/or academic problems when Mom:
– Adolescent body related to infant: prematurity & low birth weight, disabilities
– Drops out of school
– Lives in poverty
– Has unstable life‐style (# of: moves, school changes, partners)
– Uses poor parenting & has unreasonable child expectations
– Has low levels of support from family, friends
Protective factors: Increase likelihood Child has social & academic competence, good health when Mom
– Finishes high school (continues education)
– Delays birth of 2nd child
– Uses authoritative parenting; age‐appropriate expectations
– Provides stable home
– Has strong support system
About what % of US children are adopted?
2-4%
What are typical adoptive parent characteristics?
Older, greater financial resources, married longer
What are child/parent outcome findings when adoption occurs?
Parent/Child Outcomes
Mom: No difference in adoptive mom’s warmth, sensitivity
Child: mostly similar to non adopted child,but findings vary by
Child age at adoption, prenatal care & experience, birth mom age, child prior experience (abuse? how long? traumas?)
What do we know about the safety to the fetus of mother’s use of drugs/alcohol during pregnancy?
Increase risk of conception difficulties, prematurity, miscarriage, birth defects (Mom &/or Dad use)
When an infant is born to a drug dependent mother, what are key health risks to the infant?
Prematurity, smaller birth weight, smaller head, greater infant mortality
- Impairments in infant arousal & activity level
- Development of deficits, brain damage, learning disabilities, medical problems
When a mother is obese, what are the health risks to the fetus and newborn?
Fetus produces extra insulin to process excess sugars
– Predisposes infant to obesity, diabetes; risk of breathing difficulties
• Large size newborn: related to birth complications, cesarean section
According to surveys, what is the most common concern of parents of newborns?
Significant loss/lack of sleep resulting in exhaustion
