Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Voluntary Childlessness”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1982

Voluntary childlessness. Toward a theoretical integration.

Despite the recent proliferation of research on the topic of voluntary childlessness, a substantive theory has yet to be developed. A major objective of this article is to undertake such a theoretical formulation. A focus on social structural variables, that is, female education and employment, has led demographers and others to predict a phenomenal increase in voluntary childlessness. That this macro level theory is incomplete is evidenced by the fact that it cannot account for the decline or leveling off in the voluntary childless rate since 1975, despite continuing increases in women's educational achievements and labor force participation. A missing link in this formulation is the cultural component. An individual decision making model is necessary to show how social structural factors mesh with cultural components in influencing fertility decisions, in this case voluntary childlessness. Unless there is an effort to understand the micro level processes that distort the macro level patterns, a comprehensive understanding of voluntary childlessness cannot be forthcoming.

Behavior↗
PubMed1984

Family background and perceived marital happiness: a comparison of voluntary childless couples and parents.

The purpose of theis paper is to examine the previously reported relationships between family background, marital happiness, and voluntary childlessness in light of data collected from samples of intentionally childless couples and parents in Winnipeg. The findings show that, contrary to earlier assertions, family background factors such as birth order, size of family of orientation, mother's employment, and perceived parental happiness do not predispose individuals to voluntary childlessness. Further, while the reported level of marital happiness is higher among childless couples, the sources of marital dissatisfaction among parents are not always children.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2007

Voluntary childlessness is increased in women with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: The women's health aspect of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a newer area of study; childbearing issues have received little attention despite the fact that IBD affects women predominantly during their childbearing years. The aim of this study was to better understand patients' considerations about pregnancy-related issues and to examine trends in childbearing so that physicians are able to better tailor their advice to IBD-specific concerns. METHODS: Data were gathered from specific questions in 3147 surveys mailed anonymously to all members of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) Illinois Carol Fisher chapter. The subjects were provided a pre-addressed, pre-stamped return envelope and were instructed to return their completed surveys with no identifying information. Subjects were from the Illinois community. Females IBD patients were 15-44 of age and were members of the CCFA Illinois Carol Fisher chapter. RESULTS: In this study, 169 females age 15-44 years with IBD, 110 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 59 with ulcerative colitis (UC), were identified. Most subjects were white. IBD patients had a higher rate of voluntary childlessness (CD 18%, UC 14%) than the 6.2% seen in the general population (P = 0.001 for CD, P = 0.08 for UC). Women with UC had a lower rate of temporary childlessness (CD 28%, UC 13.6%) than the general population (33%) (P = NS and P < 0.0001 for UC). The rates of nonvoluntary childlessness in IBD were similar to the general population. Women with IBD also had fewer children than their state and national counterparts. The state of the patients' IBD, including those who had gone through a previous pregnancy with IBD, did not alter their resolve to have children. The educational level of our subjects was higher than the nationwide and statewide levels; 76% of the subjects used contraception before diagnosis of IBD, and 82% used it after diagnosis. The most common choices were oral contraception, barrier methods, and abstinence. This study was unable to compare the lifetime rates of complications of pregnancy with population-based controls because such data were unavailable. Furthermore, their findings in this study may not be generalized to all ethnic groups because our population was mostly white. CONCLUSIONS: Women with IBD had a higher rate of voluntary childlessness and fewer children than the general population. These observations are likely attributable to a higher educational achievement and to racial background of the patients rather than to IBD-related reasons. Although contraception use in patients with IBD was lower that in the general population, use was higher after the diagnosis of IBD than before the diagnosis. Contraceptive choices and adoption rates were similar to the general population. Women with CD were more affected by miscarriages after diagnosis with IBD than those with UC.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Voluntary childlessness among American men and women in the late 1980's.

Most studies of childlessness in the United States have relied on unrepresentative, opportunistic samples collected in a variety of ways. Thus, the relationship of various correlates to childlessness is not well known. Some studies have focused on demographic variables, but have not examined attitudinal factors associated with childlessness--something the opportunistic samples have been able to do. In this paper we examine both attitudinal and demographic factors associated with childlessness in the United States. The data used in this paper are from the National Survey of Families and Households collected in 1987 and 1988. The data set includes both demographic data, perceived advantages and disadvantages of having children, and attitudinal data about related social issues. Overall, the rate of voluntary childlessness was not high. Only 3.5 per cent of the men and 2.8 per cent of the women reported that they were childless and did not expect to have children. Only one category of people (unmarried men and women over the age of 35) had rates that exceeded ten per cent. A combined variable of age and marital status was the best predictor of childlessness. A scale of reasons or justifications for having children was the next best predictor. In addition, attendance at religious services, number of hours the respondents desired to work and education (for women only) were related to childlessness. Those who scored highly on measures of support for traditional families and support of extended families also tended to have lower rates of childlessness. Occupational status, religious denomination, and race, on the other hand, were not significantly related to childlessness. Measures of gender equality, religious fundamentalism, and support for mothers working were also not related to childlessness.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Voluntary childlessness: a social psychological model.

This research compares a nonprobability, precision-matched sample of 27 female undergraduates wishing to remain childless with 27 female undergraduates desiring to have children. The purpose was to test 8 hypotheses in an effort to explain the desire for a childless lifestyle at a relatively early age. A social psychological model is presented that elucidates some of the influential factors. The basic idea of the model is that such a choice can be analyzed in terms of 3 basic concepts: 1) family background factors; 2) self-other attitudes; and 3) reference groups. The data in this study, although collected at only 1 point in time, support the argument that these concepts play a central role in the decision to remain voluntarily childless. The family background factors are seen as instigative in the development of autonomy and achievement orientation. These 2 factors, accompanied by a belief that the advantages associated with childlessness outweigh the advantages associated with childbearing, predispose an individual to desire a childless lifestyle, particularly when these various attitudes are sustained through reference group support.

Attitude↗
PubMed1989

Childlessness and social mobility during the baby boom.

America's post-war baby boom was an era of high fertility and widespread pronatalism. Supposedly, few couples during this time were childless by choice. However, by using a special census sample, this study shows that voluntary childlessness was relatively common in certain upwardly mobile segments of the population during the baby boom. In particular, the results support the classic Dumont-Banks model of status enhancement and fertility, which states that couples with the greatest disadvantages must make the greatest sacrifices of child-centered behavior. The theoretical implications of the findings are discussed and suggestions for future research proposed.

Americas↗
PubMed2006

Fertility in Norwegian women: results from a population-based health survey.

AIMS: Reproductive behaviour has changed during the most recent decades, with increased infertility and subfertility. This study evaluated fertility, estimated the prevalence of fertility problems, and assessed possible predictors for impaired fertility. METHODS: Eligible subjects were 9,983 menopausal women participating in two health surveys. Data were collected by comprehensive questionnaires. RESULTS: Of all women 89.3% were fertile, 4.8% were subfertile, 4.1% were voluntarily childless, and 1.8% were involuntaruly childless. Impaired fertility was associated with a higher level of education and excessive alcohol intake. There were significant differences in subfertility among the parous women, with increased subfertility with decreasing age. Among the nullipara, involuntary childlessness was more prevalent in the youngest age group, while voluntary childlessness increased with advancing age. CONCLUSIONS: Fertility problems were quite common, and have increased in younger age groups, though seemingly fewer women remained childless past their reproductive age in the youngest age group.

Aged↗