Selected psychological factors related to parenting: Differences between delayed and typical-timing parents

Suzanne Bufano, Purdue University

Abstract

A recent trend among women is to postpone the birth of their first child until their thirties, a phenomenon referred to as delayed parenthood. Statistics illustrate the increasing trend toward delayed parenthood and research investigating parenthood intentions suggest this trend may continue. However, research is limited to studying delayed mothers with infants. Given these trends, it is important to understand the psychological implications of delayed parenthood. The current research examines differences between delayed and typical-timing parents with school-age children in the areas of childrearing attitudes, perceptions of child's behavior, parental depression, social support, and marital satisfaction. Delayed parents' reasons for postponing parenthood were also evaluated. The subjects for this study included 60 delayed mothers and fathers and 60 typical-timing mothers and fathers whose first-born child was between the ages of five and thirteen-years-old. Each parent completed five standardized measures of psychological factors related to parenting. The results of the study indicated that only one significant difference in childrearing attitudes was found between delayed and typical-timing parents, indicating that delayed parents had somewhat more positive childrearing attitudes than younger parents. With regard to parental perceptions of their child's behavior, parental depression, social support, and marital adjustment, the results suggest that delayed and typical-timing parents do not differ. Most delayed parents stated that they postponed the birth of their first child voluntarily, and few differences among delayed parents, based on their reason for delay, were found. The results suggest that parents whose delay was their deliberate choice had somewhat more positive childrearing attitudes and perceptions of their child, compared to delayed parents whose delay was not their deliberate choice. On the other hand, parents whose primary reason for delaying parenthood was voluntary were somewhat more likely to endorse negative childrearing attitudes, as compared to involuntary delayed parents. The clinical implications of these results are discussed, and directions for future research are suggested.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Santogrossi, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Psychotherapy|Families & family life|Personal relationships|Sociology

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