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dc.contributor.authorHansen, Thomasen_US
dc.date.accessioned2015-02-26T13:52:56Z
dc.date.available2015-02-26T13:52:56Z
dc.date.issued2012-08en_US
dc.identifier.citationHansen, T. (2012). Parenthood and happiness: A review of folk theories versus empirical evidence. Social Indicators Research, 108(1), 29-64.en_US
dc.identifier.issn0303-8300en_US
dc.identifier.otherFRIDAID 995951en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10642/2428
dc.description.abstractThis paper reviews and compares folk theories and empirical evidence about the influence of parenthood on happiness and life satisfaction. The review of attitudes toward parenthood and childlessness reveals that people tend to believe that parenthood is central to a meaningful and fulfilling life, and that the lives of childless people are emptier, less rewarding, and lonelier, than the lives of parents. Most cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence suggest, however, that people are better off without having children. It is mainly children living at home that interfere with well-being, particularly among women, singles, lower socioeconomic strata, and people residing in less pronatalist societies—especially when these characteristics are combined. The discrepancy between beliefs and findings is discussed in relation to the various costs of parenting; the advantages of childlessness; adaptation and compensation among involuntarily childless persons; cognitive biases; and the possibility that parenthood confers rewards in terms of meaning rather than happiness.en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherSpringeren_US
dc.relation.ispartofseriesSocial Indicators Research;108(1)en_US
dc.subjectParenthooden_US
dc.subjectHappinessen_US
dc.subjectChildlessnessen_US
dc.titleParenthood and happiness: a review of folk theories versus empirical evidenceen_US
dc.typeJournal articleen_US
dc.typePeer revieweden_US
dc.description.versionThis is a postprint version of a published article. The original is available at www.springerlink.comen_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11205-011-9865-y


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