Parenthood and psychological well-being: theory measurement and stage in family life course

• Published in: Journal of family issues 1989-12, Vol.10 (4), p.440-462
• Main Authors: Umberson, D, Gove, W.R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Childrearing Practices; Children; cost benefit analysis; family relations; measurement; national surveys; Parent Child Relations; Parenthood; Parents; psychosocial factors; social costs; United States of America; Well Being
• ISSN: 0192-513X; 1552-5481
• DOI: 10.1177/019251389010004002

There are theoretical foundations in sociology for two seemingly incompatible positions: (1) children should have a strong negative impact on the psychological well-being of parents and (2) children should have a strong positive impact on the psychological well-being of parents. Most empirical analyses yield only a modest relationship between parenthood and psychological well-being. Usually, but not always, it is negative. In this study we consider the relationship between parental status and several dimensions of psychological well-being. Our analysis is based on data from a large national survey. It suggests that children have positive and negative effects on the psychological well-being of parents. The balance of positive and negative effects associated with parenthood depends on residential status of the child, age of youngest child, marital status of the parent, and the particular dimension of psychological well-being examined. When compared with nonparents, parents with children in the home have low levels of affective well-being and satisfaction, and high levels of life-meaning; parents with adult children living away from home have high levels of affective well-being, satisfaction, and life-meaning. The widowed appear to benefit most from parenthood and the divorced appear to experience the greatest costs.