Parenthood, Childlessness, and Well‐Being: A Life Course Perspective
2010/06/01 by Debra Umberson, Tetyana Pudrovska, Corinne Reczek · 606 citations
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Childlessness #Demography #Developmental psychology #Ethnic group #Family Dynamics and Relationships #Family life #Fertility #Gender studies #Health disparities and outcomes #Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving #Life course approach #Marital status #Perspective (graphical) #Population #Psychology #Socioeconomic status #Sociology #Well-being
paper · open access · doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00721.x
published in Journal of Marriage and the Family 72(3), 612-629 (Wiley)
openalex publication_date 2010/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Abstract
This article reviews recent research (1999 - 2009) on the effects of parenthood on wellbeing. We use a life course framework to consider how parenting and childlessness influence well-being throughout the adult life course. We place particular emphasis on social contexts and how the impact of parenthood on well-being depends on marital status, gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. We also consider how recent demographic shifts lead to new family arrangements that have implications for parenthood and well-being. These include stepparenting, parenting of grandchildren, and childlessness across the life course.
Citations
Cited by
- Extending the Intergenerational Stake Hypothesis: Evidence of an Intra‐individual Stake and Implications for Well‐being
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- Subjective biology: how perceived fecundity influences relationship satisfaction and stability
- Number of children and dementia risk: a causal mediation analysis using data from the HUNT study linked with national registries in Norway
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- Fertility History and Physical and Mental Health Changes in European Older Adults. [europepmc]
- Fertility History and Cognitive Function in Late Life: The Case of Mexico. [europepmc]
- Parenthood and Well-Being: A Decade in Review. [europepmc]
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- "I Wanted to Be There as a Father, but I Couldn't": A Qualitative Study of Fathers' Experiences of Postpartum Depression and Their Help-Seeking Behavior. [europepmc]
- Parental Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Psychological Outcomes and Risk and Protective Factors. [europepmc]
- Mothers, Fathers, Daughters, and Sons: Gender Differences in Adults' Intergenerational Ties. [europepmc]
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