Frank van Balen1. 1. Department of Education, University of Amsterdam, Wibautstraat 4, 1091 GM, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. F.vanBalen@uva.nl
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The percentage of first birth among women and men in their early thirties is growing rapidly. Personal development is considered as an important factor for postponement of having children. Also, subfertility may lead to late parenthood. METHODS: In this study 72 younger and 154 older first time parents in the Netherlands answered a questionnaire regarding parenthood. Subfertile parents and fertile parents were separately analysed. RESULTS: Both fertile and subfertile mothers expressed a lesser desire to have a child than younger ones. Older fertile mothers valued the personal development of their children as more important than younger fertile mothers. Also, older fertile mothers had less traditional reasons for motherhood and reported less feminine characteristics. Younger fertile fathers assessed the future material success of their child as less important than older ones. Also, they reported less feminine characteristics. CONCLUSION: There is more common ground than differences between younger and older first-time mothers. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Counselors should be aware that there appears to be no ground to fear that having children in the age of 30 and 40, has negative effects regarding parenting.
OBJECTIVES: The percentage of first birth among women and men in their early thirties is growing rapidly. Personal development is considered as an important factor for postponement of having children. Also, subfertility may lead to late parenthood. METHODS: In this study 72 younger and 154 older first time parents in the Netherlands answered a questionnaire regarding parenthood. Subfertile parents and fertile parents were separately analysed. RESULTS: Both fertile and subfertile mothers expressed a lesser desire to have a child than younger ones. Older fertile mothers valued the personal development of their children as more important than younger fertile mothers. Also, older fertile mothers had less traditional reasons for motherhood and reported less feminine characteristics. Younger fertile fathers assessed the future material success of their child as less important than older ones. Also, they reported less feminine characteristics. CONCLUSION: There is more common ground than differences between younger and older first-time mothers. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Counselors should be aware that there appears to be no ground to fear that having children in the age of 30 and 40, has negative effects regarding parenting.