How Children Affect Couple HappinessEvidence shows that children, especially young ones, stabilize marriage.But a stable marriage is not necessarily a happy oneResearch finds that not only do parents report lower marital satisfaction than nonparents, but the more children there are, the lower marital satisfaction is.Parents are also more likely to experience depression than are nonparents.Childfree MarriageChildfree marriages may be viewed by society with:SuspicionAvoidanceDiscomfortRejectionPityTop five reasons given in Laura Scott’s (2009) Childless by Choice Project for not having children include:Life/relationship satisfactionBeing free and independentAvoid responsibility of rearing a childAbsence of maternal/paternal instinctDesire to accomplish and experience things in lifeChoosing to be ChildfreeVoluntary Childlessness is the choice of approximately 7% of American womenThe United States appears to have strong, although weakening, fertility norms that continue to encourage two children and discourage childlessness and only-child familiesThe Lives of the ChildfreeThe voluntarily childless have more education and are more likely to have managerial or professional employment and higher incomes.More urban, less traditional in gender roles, less likely to have a religious affiliation and less conventional than their counterpartsValue relative freedom to change jobs or careers, move around the country, and pursue endeavorsMore satisfied with their relationships than parenting couples areHaving Children: Options and CircumstancesDecisions about becoming parents are being made in a much wider variety of circumstances.Timing Parenthood: Earlier versus LaterThe age of first birth has increasedBirthrates have declined for women in their teens and in their thirtiesBirthrates for women in their forties continue to increase dramaticallyPostponing ParenthoodMany couples today are postponing parenthood into their thirties, sometimes laterFactors:Later age at marriageDesire of women to complete their education and become established in their careersBoth women and men remain longer in the “emerging adulthood” stageAvailability of reliable contraceptionAssisted reproduction technologyEarly and Late ParenthoodConsequences:Women who postponed parenthood found that combining established careers with parenting created unforeseen problemsLate mothers had more confidence about their ability to manage, more money to arrange services, and more confidence about parentingLate fathers expressed a great deal of joy in parenthoodChildren born to older parents benefit from the financial and emotional stability that older parents can provide.Also often experience anxiety about their parents’ health and morality.Child SpacingExperts report that for the physical and intellectual health of both mother and child, the optimal years for spacing children is a minimum of threeFor prospective parents interested in the timing of their parenthood, it’s important to have an awareness of the trade-offs.Women without ChildrenVoluntarily Childless=ChildfreeChoose not to have childrenTemporary ChildlessPlan to have children at a later timeInvoluntarily ChildlessWant children but cannot have themInfertilityNot getting pregnant after more than 1 year of trying (usually 18 months)Causes of InfertilityConception (fertilization) – the fusion of the egg and sperm.Pregnancy – five to seven days after conception, when the fertilized egg is implanted, typically in the uterine wall.40% of infertility problems are attributed to the woman.40% of infertility problems are attributed to the man.20% of infertility problems are attributed to both the man and woman.Causes of Male InfertilityLow sperm productionPoor semen motilityEffects of sexually transmitted infectionsInterference with passage of sperm through the genital ducts due to an enlarged prostateCauses of Female InfertilityBlocked fallopian tubesEndocrine imbalance that prevents ovulationDysfunctional ovariesChemically hostile cervical mucus that may kill spermEffects of sexually transmitted infectionsInvoluntary Infertility and Reproductive TechnologyInvoluntary infertility is wanting to conceive and bear a child but being unable to do soAbout 6.7 million, or 11 percent of women—and 6 percent of married women—between ages 15 and 44 are infertile.Male infertility accounts for fertility difficulties in approximately one-third of couples seeking infertility treatmentInfertility Services and Reproductive TechnologyAssisted reproductive technology (ART) has become an accepted reproductive option.ART methods are incredibly costlyAbout 1/3 of ART procedures result in a live birth.Reproductive Technology: Making Personal ChoicesChoosing to use reproductive technology depends on one’s values and circumstances.Religious beliefs and cultural values influence decisions.Treatment can be financially, physically, and emotionally drainingAssisted Reproductive TechnologyHormone TherapyArtificial InseminationArtificial Insemination of a Surrogate MotherIn Vitro FertilizationOvum TransferSuccess Using Reproductive TechnologiesOnly 28% of couples end up with a live birthAdoptionRoutes to Adoption:PublicPrivate AgencyIndependent AdoptionKinshipStepparentInternationalMotives for AdoptionInability to have a biological childDesire to give an otherwise unwanted child a permanent loving homeDesire to avoid contributing to overpopulation by having more biological childrenFSHD 257 1st Edition Lecture 11 Outline of Last Lecture I. Begin exploring the factors that come into play when deciding to enter parenthoodII. Consider the costs and rewards of having or not having children Outline of Current Lecture III. Examine why couples choose to be “childfree”IV. Explore the different opportunities/ way to have children Current Lecture How Children Affect Couple Happiness- Evidence shows that children, especially young ones, stabilize marriage.- But a stable marriage is not necessarily a happy one- Research finds that not only do parents report lower marital satisfaction than nonparents, but the more children there are, the lower marital satisfaction is. - Parents are also more likely to experience depression than are nonparents. Childfree Marriage- Childfree marriages may be viewed by society with:o Suspiciono Avoidance o Discomforto Rejectiono Pity - Top five reasons given in Laura Scott’s (2009) Childless by Choice Project for not having children include: o Life/relationship