Relationship Between Age And Childlessness As Key Factor In Family Stability
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Relationship Between Age And Childlessness As Key Factor In Family Stability
Chapter One: Introduction
Background to the Study
Parenthood is essential for a meaningful and fulfilling life in a family, and childless people’s lives are emptier, less rewarding, and, in old age, lonelier than those of parents (Baumeister, 1991; Blake, 1979).
More specifically, people believe that parenthood provides significant social (companionship, intimacy, support), developmental (maturity and growth), and existential (expansion of self and opportunities to love, be loved, and feel useful and needed) benefits (Hoffman & Manis, 1979; Hoffman, 1987; Rubinstein, 1987).
The assumed benefits of children are thus closely related to core psychological needs for connectedness, engaging activity, meaning, security and control (e.g., reliable support in old age), and experiencing positive self-fulfilment, all of which appear to be major correlates of subjective well-being in parenthood (Angner, 2005; Baumeister & Leary, 1995; Myers, 1999; Ryan & Deci, 2001; Veenhoven, 1975).
Because parenthood has a multifaceted impact (structural, social, financial, existential, etc.) on people’s lives, and because the influence can be both positive and negative, the effects of parental status on psychological well-being may differ significantly depending on the aspect of well-being under consideration and the individual.
Parents with children at home, for example, may endure emotional anguish while believing that their lives are fulfilling and worthwhile (Veenhoven, 2001).
Parental age and childlessness alter the expected and predicted life course for the majority of childless people in middle and old age (e.g., Hagestad & Call, 2007). Not having children can lead to a sense of loss or failure, as well as family instability, which can depress positive self-evaluations, particularly when compared to the majority of people who are parents or grandparents, when one perceives oneself as not meeting social expectations, or when one believes one is not doing the right thing.
In addition to the benefits of simply having children, the motherhood experience itself can enhance self-esteem and make parents feel like better people. Parenthood provides opportunity to belong, contribute, and receive positive feedback, as well as opportunities to support and care for others.
The psychological benefits of caregiving have been found to be more strong in women (Marks, 2004). This study will look at age and childlessness as determinants of family stability.
Statement of the Problem
The expectation that childbearing provides psychological advantages is also embedded in the emotional impacts of unachieved and blocked life objectives, particularly those that are highly valued both personally and culturally (Diener, 1995; Lucas, 2004).
Indeed, parenthood is a fundamental life goal, with almost everyone in current and past cohorts of young adults intending to have children (Thornton & Young-DeMarco, 2001; Toulemon, 1996)
Parenthood is also culturally significant, as indicated by substantial social expectations of parenthood in western nations (McQuillan, 2007).
Although the social stigma of one’s age and childlessness has always been a problem in the stability of family life (Connidis, 2001;Park, 2002), attitudes towards non-normative life paths lead one to predict that one’s age and childlessness in a family leads to less social support and fewer rewards in a family cycle and in society.
Childlessness is certainly one of the most serious issues that might predict family stability. Health difficulties and other age-related variables may limit a woman’s capacity to have children. Childlessness is also a stalled life ambition for most people in midlife, particularly those in their golden years.
In summary, not having children may reduce social recognition, and involuntary childlessness may result in feelings of failure and disappointment, which can affect people’s sense of well-being.
All of this is a big issue in family life that may have an impact on the family’s stability. Because of these issues, this study will look into age and childlessness as predictors of family stability.
The purpose of the study
The primary goal of this study is to investigate age and childlessness as determinants of family stability. Specifically, the study attempts to examine:
The link between age and childlessness is an important aspect in family stability.
The impact of ageing and childlessness on family stability.
There are several approaches of controlling family childlessness in order to maintain family stability.
The factors that influence family stability include age and childlessness.
Research Question
The conduct of this study will be guided by the following research questions:
How does ageing and childlessness affect a family’s stability?
To what extent do ageing and childlessness influence family stability?
What are the numerous strategies for managing family childlessness in order to maintain family stability?
Why do ageing and childlessness effect a family’s stability?
Significance of the Study
The study will assist previously married couples, those planning to marry, those already in relationships with society as a whole, marital counsellors, future researchers, and so on.
The study will help couples who are ready to marry to look for ways to build their marital stability, knowing that a stable family contributes to the progress of society, while also giving them a solid understanding of how to deal with difficulties of family childlessness in the family.
Those who wish to marry will profit from the study since it will show them how ageing and childlessness, which are often viewed as major obstacles to family stability, may be properly addressed.
Those who are currently in a relationship will benefit from the study since it will help them understand the need of researching their spouse’s background, health information, and essential marriage-related facts.
The study will also help them understand why tiny troubles might be a factor in ruining their family’s happiness in their marriage. The study will benefit society as a whole by giving them a better understanding of why parents without children should not be overlooked or considered as unimportant members of society. The study will also be a source of research materials for other scholars.
Scope of the Study
The study will look at how age and childlessness predict family stability. It will concentrate on married couples as well as adults who plan to marry or are already in a relationship. It will also look at other characteristics like the spouse’s health and age as a factor in family stability.
Hypothesis
The following hypothesis is intended to test the responses of the respondents.
H01: Age and childlessness in a family cycle have no substantial impact on family stability.
H02: Age and childlessness in a family cannot be effectively handled in order to maintain family stability.
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