Childlessness and Well-Being in 88 Countries
Author Information
Author(s): Teerawichitchainan Bussarawan, Mair Christine, Sugimori Haruka
Primary Institution: National University of Singapore
Hypothesis
Childless older adults have lower subjective well-being in country contexts with higher stigma against childlessness.
Conclusion
Childless individuals report lower life satisfaction, especially in countries with high stigma against childlessness, but happiness increases with economic development.
Supporting Evidence
- Childless respondents report lower subjective well-being.
- Associations between childlessness and well-being vary by country-level factors.
- Happiness increases with economic development for both childless and non-childless individuals.
- Childless individuals in high-stigma countries report the lowest life satisfaction.
Takeaway
People without children often feel less happy, especially in places where not having kids is looked down upon, but being in a richer country can make them feel better.
Methodology
Multilevel modeling of data from the World Values Survey, United Nations, and World Bank.
Limitations
The reasons for variation in subjective well-being across countries are not fully identified.
Participant Demographics
Adults aged 45+ from 88 countries with varying income levels.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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