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Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Why parents may have a greater sense of appreciation for life
Parenthood doesn't guarantee happiness, but it can offer meaning and a sense of direction in life. (Rawpixel pic) PARIS : Parenthood is frequently perceived as an essential step towards personal fulfilment. Behind this tenacious myth lies a more nuanced reality – having children doesn't necessarily make you happier, but it may well make life more meaningful, according to a major European study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family. Conducted by Ansgar Hudde and Marita Jacob, researchers at the University of Cologne, this sociological survey is based on the responses of over 43,000 Europeans from 30 countries. The experts aimed to identify the effects of parenthood on the two pillars of well-being: life satisfaction, and the feeling of leading a meaningful life. They found that being a parent doesn't systematically make people happier, especially over the long term. On the other hand, it does profoundly alter people's perception of their own existence. 'Previous debates about parenthood have focused too much on happiness and satisfaction,' Hudde explained. 'Our study shows that people who have children are not automatically happier, but they are more likely to feel that their own lives are meaningful and valuable.' However, the relationship between parenthood and life satisfaction varies in relation to social circumstances. Mothers from modest backgrounds have a lower level of life satisfaction than women from equivalent socioeconomic backgrounds without children. On the other hand, this difference is much less pronounced among women from wealthier backgrounds. As for men, the parental factor seems to carry little weight in life satisfaction, regardless of social background. When it comes to finding meaning in life, however, boundaries blur. Whether men or women, rich or poor, parents are more likely to say their existence has value. This sense of meaning transcends borders and social circumstances. And under certain conditions, happiness and meaning can go hand in hand. This is typically the case in Nordic countries, where family policies and institutional support enable parents to reconcile personal fulfilment and parenthood. 'The results show that good societal conditions can make both things possible: meaning and satisfaction,' Hudde stressed. Among other major findings, the researchers reported that the birth of a first child triggers a peak in satisfaction – which is short-lived. On the other hand, the feeling of having a meaningful life takes hold for good. It's a reminder that, while parenthood doesn't guarantee happiness, it can offer a sense of direction; a reason for being that can help us withstand the ups and downs of life.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Parents experience greater meaning in life, study confirms
Representative Image (AI-generated) I once heard someone say, "Having a child is like outsourcing a vital organ that runs around outside all by itself and climbs trees." Having a child is as fascinating and meaningful as it can also be worrying and exhausting. A new study on parental satisfaction confirms this apparent contradiction. Compared to people who are childfree , parents feel their lives are more fulfilled. However, parents are not more satisfied with their lives than non-parents. On the contrary: they are often more dissatisfied. These are the findings of the sociologists Marita Jacob and Ansgar Hudde from the University of Cologne , published this month in the specialist Journal of Marriage and Family. The researchers based their study on data from the European Social Survey, which had more than 43,000 respondents from 30 countries. Jacob and Hudde determined that, regardless of nationality or social status, both mothers and fathers felt that their lives had a deeper meaning. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Start Here - 2025 Top Trend Local network access control Esseps Learn More Undo But the same was not true of their satisfaction with their lives. This depended to a large extent not only on the respondent's living situation, but also on family policy in their country. And the difference was gendered: Mothers' life satisfaction levels were lower than those of fathers. Scandinavia: Hardly any difference between parents and childfree: "Parents in challenging life situations are less satisfied," says Marita Jacob, a sociology professor at the University of Cologne. Challenging might mean, for example, that they are a single parent, young, with low educational qualifications. Hardly surprising, you might think, that they are less satisfied. But Jacob says it is not inevitable. "In Scandinavian countries , the differences between social groups are far less pronounced," she says. In these countries, the difference in life satisfaction between parents and child-free people is also far less than, for example, in central and eastern Europe. Childcare, financial support for parents, parental leave — these family policy measures work very well in the Scandinavian countries, says Jacob. "My speculation is that these measures impact on society as a whole, meaning that children are not seen solely as their parents' problem, but as a responsibility for the community as a whole." This attitude is also reflected in Scandinavian business culture, Jacob says. She explains that it is more normal there for parents to start and leave work early, as well as for important meetings to be scheduled around the rhythm of family life. Greater gender equality leads to greater satisfaction: Family life is still primarily taken care of by women. In Germany, one in two women reduces her working hours in order to be able to look after her children. Just under 6 per cent of German men who work part-time do so for family reasons. The majority of parental leave in Germany is also taken by mothers. Another factor that may help to explain why parents in Finland are more satisfied than parents in Germany is gender equality. Equal pay in the Scandinavian countries, and a smaller gender pay gap as a result, means women there are more satisfied, says Jacob. She adds that this also has positive effects on the partnership, and thus also on the family. "A child is not a project you can manage all by yourself": Marita Jacob says that when her children were small, she banded together with other parents. "We would each always pick up several children from the kindergarten." Anyone who has small children knows that an extra half-hour, or half an hour less, can absolutely determine whether or not the day will end in a nervous breakdown. This is why Jacob recommends that parents should not only offer each other more support, but should also accept it when offered. Children are important — not only to counterbalance our ageing society, which won't be able to look after all its senior citizens without a young generation. As Marita Jacob stresses: "Children also have intrinsic value. They bring liveliness, new ideas and innovations to society." This is why the sociologist believes that the bulk of the responsibility for them lies with policymakers. "Children shouldn't be their parents' problem when childcare is unreliable or there are problems with the school," she says. "Children are the responsibility of society as a whole."
DW
02-06-2025
- General
- DW
Parents experience greater meaning in life, study confirms – DW – 06/01/2025
A new study confirms what many parents already knew: children give life meaning. The price that parents pay is lower life satisfaction, especially for mothers — but some countries fare better than others. I once heard someone say, "Having a child is like outsourcing a vital organ that runs around outside all by itself and climbs trees." Having a child is as fascinating and meaningful as it can also be worrying and exhausting. A new study on parental satisfaction confirms this apparent contradiction. Compared to people who are childfree, parents feel their lives are more fulfilled. However, parents are not more satisfied with their lives than non-parents. On the contrary: they are often more dissatisfied. These are the findings of the sociologists Marita Jacob and Ansgar Hudde from the University of Cologne, published this month in the specialist Journal of Marriage and Family. The researchers based their study on data from the European Social Survey, which had more than 43,000 respondents from 30 countries. Are kids in Germany really more independent? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Jacob and Hudde determined that, regardless of nationality or social status, both mothers and fathers felt that their lives had a deeper meaning. But the same was not true of their satisfaction with their lives. This depended to a large extent not only on the respondent's living situation, but also on family policy in their country. And the difference was gendered: Mothers' life satisfaction levels were lower than those of fathers. Scandinavia: Hardly any difference between parents and childfree "Parents in challenging life situations are less satisfied," says Marita Jacob, a sociology professor at the University of Cologne. Challenging might mean, for example, that they are a single parent, young, with low educational qualifications. Hardly surprising, you might think, that they are less satisfied. But Jacob says it is not inevitable. "In Scandinavian countries, the differences between social groups are far less pronounced," she says. In these countries, the difference in life satisfaction between parents and child-free people is also far less than, for example, in central and eastern Europe. Childcare, financial support for parents, parental leave — these family policy measures work very well in the Scandinavian countries, says Jacob. "My speculation is that these measures impact on society as a whole, meaning that children are not seen solely as their parents' problem, but as a responsibility for the community as a whole." This attitude is also reflected in Scandinavian business culture, Jacob says. She explains that it is more normal there for parents to start and leave work early, as well as for important meetings to be scheduled around the rhythm of family life. Greater gender equality leads to greater satisfaction Family life is still primarily taken care of by women. In Germany, one in two women reduces her working hours in order to be able to look after her children. Just under 6% of German men who work part-time do so for family reasons. The majority of parental leave in Germany is also taken by mothers. Egg donation in Europe — going abroad for a baby , To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Another factor that may help to explain why parents in Finland are more satisfied than parents in Germany is gender pay in the Scandinavian countries, and a smaller gender pay gap as a result, means women there are more satisfied, says Jacob. She adds that this also has positive effects on the partnership, and thus also on the family. "A child is not a project you can manage all by yourself" Marita Jacob says that when her children were small, she banded together with other parents. "We would each always pick up several children from the kindergarten." Anyone who has small children knows that an extra half-hour, or half an hour less, can absolutely determine whether or not the day will end in a nervous breakdown. This is why Jacob recommends that parents should not only offer each other more support, but should also accept it when offered. Children are important — not only to counterbalance our ageing society, which won't be able to look after all its senior citizens without a young generation. As Marita Jacob stresses: "Children also have intrinsic value. They bring liveliness, new ideas and innovations to society." This is why the sociologist believes that the bulk of the responsibility for them lies with policymakers. "Children shouldn't be their parents' problem when childcare is unreliable ,or there are problems with the school," she says. "Children are the responsibility of society as a whole." This article has been translated from German.
DW
01-06-2025
- General
- DW
Parenthood in Europe: Less life satisfaction, more meaning – DW – 06/01/2025
A new study confirms what many parents already knew: Children give life meaning. The price that parents pay is lower life satisfaction, especially for mothers — but some countries fare better than others. I once heard someone say, "Having a child is like outsourcing a vital organ that runs around outside all by itself and climbs trees." Having a child is as fascinating and meaningful as it can also be worrying and exhausting. A new study on parental satisfaction confirms this apparent contradiction. Compared to people who are childfree, parents feel their lives are more fulfilled. However, parents are not more satisfied with their lives than non-parents. On the contrary: they are often more dissatisfied. These are the findings of the sociologists Marita Jacob and Ansgar Hudde from the University of Cologne, published this month in the specialist Journal of Marriage and Family. The researchers based their study on data from the European Social Survey, which had more than 43,000 respondents from 30 countries. Are kids in Germany really more independent? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Jacob and Hudde determined that, regardless of nationality or social status, both mothers and fathers felt that their lives had a deeper meaning. But the same was not true of their satisfaction with their lives. This depended to a large extent not only on the respondent's living situation, but also on family policy in their country. And the difference was gendered: Mothers' life satisfaction levels were lower than those of fathers. Scandinavia: Hardly any difference between parents and childfree "Parents in challenging life situations are less satisfied," says Marita Jacob, a sociology professor at the University of Cologne. Challenging might mean, for example, that they are a single parent, young, with low educational qualifications. Hardly surprising, you might think, that they are less satisfied. But Jacob says it is not inevitable. "In Scandinavian countries, the differences between social groups are far less pronounced," she says. In these countries, the difference in life satisfaction between parents and child-free people is also far less than, for example, in central and eastern Europe. Childcare, financial support for parents, parental leave — these family policy measures work very well in the Scandinavian countries, says Jacob. "My speculation is that these measures impact on society as a whole, meaning that children are not seen solely as their parents' problem, but as a responsibility for the community as a whole." This attitude is also reflected in Scandinavian business culture, Jacob says. She explains that it is more normal there for parents to start and leave work early, as well as for important meetings to be scheduled around the rhythm of family life. Greater gender equality leads to greater satisfaction Family life is still primarily taken care of by women. In Germany, one in two women reduces her working hours in order to be able to look after her children. Just under 6% of German men who work part-time do so for family reasons. The majority of parental leave in Germany is also taken by mothers. Egg donation in Europe — going abroad for a baby , To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Another factor that may help to explain why parents in Finland are more satisfied than parents in Germany is gender pay in the Scandinavian countries, and a smaller gender pay gap as a result, means women there are more satisfied, says Jacob. She adds that this also has positive effects on the partnership, and thus also on the family. "A child is not a project you can manage all by yourself" Marita Jacob says that when her children were small, she banded together with other parents. "We would each always pick up several children from the kindergarten." Anyone who has small children knows that an extra half-hour, or half an hour less, can absolutely determine whether or not the day will end in a nervous breakdown. This is why Jacob recommends that parents should not only offer each other more support, but should also accept it when offered. Children are important — not only to counterbalance our ageing society, which won't be able to look after all its senior citizens without a young generation. As Marita Jacob stresses: "Children also have intrinsic value. They bring liveliness, new ideas and innovations to society." This is why the sociologist believes that the bulk of the responsibility for them lies with policymakers. "Children shouldn't be their parents' problem when childcare is unreliable ,or there are problems with the school," she says. "Children are the responsibility of society as a whole." This article has been translated from German.
