Mothers' Parenting Behaviours, Strain, Enjoyment and Subsequent Childbearing

Bibliographic Data

ID2348628
AuthorsEwa Jarosz (0000-0001-9455-0334, University of Warsaw, corresponding author), Anna Matysiak (0000-0002-8883-3925, University of Warsaw), B Osiewalska (0000-0003-1068-3661, University of Warsaw)
Year2025
Volume46
Issue5
Pages711-732
Publication date2025-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Family Issues (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0192-513X • E-ISSN: 1552-5481
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0192513x241257235
OpenAlexW4403931330
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited62

Modern parenting is both emotionally costly and rewarding. It is also more intensive than before and requires significant time and effort, particularly from mothers. Emotional costs and benefits of children are important to fertility decisions, and they may be linked with a mother's parenting behaviours. Using a sample of 4402 partnered first-time mothers from the UK Household Longitudinal Study waves 1 to 9 (2009-2018), this study investigated the association between mothers' parenting behaviours, changes in the levels of reported strain or enjoyment of everyday activities and second-birth transition. A decline in enjoyment formed a negative association with second-birth risk. The frequency of participation in dinner with the child and in leisure activities with the child formed significant associations with second-birth risk but only for selected segments of the population. We discuss the possible underlying mechanisms of these associations and the socioeconomic differences within them

Child rearing · Developmental psychology · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Psychology · Social Psychology

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