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Childless by choice: a qualitative study on couples' experiences of marriage and voluntary childlessness

Go?nu?llu? c?ocuksuzluk: c?iftlerin evlilik ve go?nu?llu? c?ocuksuzluk deneyimleri u?zerine kalitatif bir aras?tırma
Authors: Erkaya, Merve;

Childless by choice: a qualitative study on couples' experiences of marriage and voluntary childlessness

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Voluntary childlessness is defined as a process in which individuals do not have a child and they intentionally choose to become childless. The numbers of individuals and couples who decide to remain childless have increased over time. For the Turkish context, based on the statistics of TÜIK (Turkish Statistical Institute), in 2020, 13.5% of households consists of only a wife and a husband without the presence of children (while ignoring cohabiting couples). Despite the growing number of childless individuals and couples, there is limited research how couples experience voluntary childlessness and how they negotiate this decision in their relationships. In the present study, the main aim is to understand the experiences of childfree couples. More specifically, their motivations and rationales behind this decision, experiences of being childfree and the effect of voluntary childlessness over their marital lives are explored. Five married childfree couples were recruited for the present study. The mean age of the participants was 34 (from the age of 25 to 47) and the mean duration of marriages was 5 (from 2 years to 8 years). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with each partner individually through online channels, and they took approximately 90 minutes to complete. Based on the thematic analysis of the interviews, four main themes were identified, namely a) meanings of having a child, b) decision making process, c) marital functioning and d) facing societal norms. The findings demonstrated that childfree couples perceived negative aspects (e.g. loss of autonomy) of having children as well as acknowledging its positive aspects (e.g. being as a unique experience). These perceptions were influential in their decision making process as a couple and as individuals. In addition, while making a tentative decision and reflecting on it as couples, there was consensus among partners and direct communication in which they shared their opinions about having children openly. The childfree participants were satisfied with their marital lives based on its unique aspects (e.g., sense of togetherness and strong communication). As being a minority group, they face with some societal norms, experienced a sense of being different from society and develop strategies to cope with those norms. The results of the study are expected to inform the perspectives and practices of clinicians who work with childfree individuals and couples. Discussions of the findings in relation to the existing literature, limitations and suggestions for further studies are presented.

Country
Turkey
Related Organizations
Keywords

Marital Adjustment, Karar Verme Süreçleri, Evlilik Uyumu, Gönüllü Çocuksuzluk, Toplumsal Normlar, Motivations, Voluntary Childlessness, Decision-Making Process, Societal Norms, Motivasyonlar

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
Green