Delayed Parenthood and Women's Expectations about the Transition to Parenthood

Abstract

Delayed parenthood has become an increasingly prevalent phenomenon in some industrialised societies as women gain educational and employment opportunities. What psychological factors are associated with this demographic trend? Is the timing of child-bearing related to parenthood motivation and family values? In order to address these questions, 114 women (20-40 years of age) who were expecting the birth of their first child were individually interviewed and completed measures of family and occupation-related constructs in their last trimester of pregnancy. The pattern of findings suggested that for many women, the perceived advantages of delayed child-bearing reflected a broader group of factors associated with personal development, rather than "careerism" per se. Timing of child-bearing was not related to parenthood motivation but was related to family values. As predicted, after statistically controlling for other variables, delayed childbearing (as defined by respondents' age) was related to a more individualistic view of family functioning.

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