This qualitative case study examines the factors influencing childbearing reluctance among university-employed couples with favorable socioeconomic status in Iran. Through semi-structured interviews with twelve participants from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, the research highlights the complex interplay of cultural, social, policy-related, economic, and individual factors. Cultural and social concerns were the most significant, including ideological conflicts, diminished optimism about future societal conditions, and anxiety about child-rearing in limited educational and recreational environments. Participants frequently cited social tensions, the erosion of traditional values, and the fear of exposing children to an uncertain future as key deterrents, reflecting broader societal anxieties. Policy-related barriers were also significant, such as insufficient maternity leave, lack of support for working mothers, and ineffective fertility-promoting initiatives. While economic pressures, especially the rising cost of quality education and childcare, were acknowledged, they did not consistently overshadow cultural or policy-related issues. Individual circumstances like caregiving responsibilities, professional demands, and health constraints were less influential. The study found that uniform policies can't motivate childbearing in diverse groups, so Tailored interventions that target cultural challenges, institutional deficiencies, and psychosocial needs are essential for influencing fertility behaviors.
This study examined how family distancing was associated with differentiation of self, and how that relationship was moderated by sources of social support outside the family of origin. Research in family systems suggests that poorly differentiated individuals have unresolved emotional tensions with their family of origin, resulting in a diminished ability to balance emotional intimacy with personal autonomy. However, alternative research exploring family distancing has suggested that limiting or fully ending communication with one’s family of origin can sometimes be necessary and healthy for individuals, with research also suggesting that individuals may create their own sense of family in the face of distanced or estranged family relationships. Therefore, this study explored the extent to which individuals may rely on social relationships beyond the family of origin to maintain high levels of self-differentiation in the face of distanced relationships. A convenience sample of 122 individuals above the age of 18 was recruited for participation. Analysis of survey data revealed 1) that more family distancing predicted poorer DoS, and 2) that the relationship between family distancing and DoS was moderated by social supports depending on educational status; social supports buffered the negative relationship between family distancing and DoS for college/university students (n = 89), but exacerbated this negative relationship for participants not attending college/university (n = 33). Theoretical and methodological implications of the findings are discussed.
It is well-established that families play a pivotal role in shaping adolescents' mental health. In the context of the nationwide pandemic outbreak following the reopening policy, this study explored the relationship between maternal COVID-19 peritraumatic distress and adolescents' hyperactivity and emotional problems, and the mediating roles of perceived maternal warmth and adolescents' COVID-19 peritraumatic distress. The study examined the proposed model using survey data, including 388 mother-adolescent pairs from Shanghai, Zhuhai, Xinyang, and Ningxiang in China. Our results revealed: (1) no significant association between maternal COVID-19 peritraumatic distress and adolescents' hyperactivity and emotional problems; (2) full mediation by perceived maternal warmth or adolescents' COVID-19 peritraumatic distress in the relationship between maternal COVID-19 peritraumatic distress and adolescents' hyperactivity and emotional problems; (3) identification of a full chain mediation involving maternal COVID-19 peritraumatic distress, perceived maternal warmth, adolescents' COVID-19 peritraumatic distress, and adolescents' hyperactivity and emotional problems. Taken together, these findings enhance our comprehension of the familial impact on children amidst heightened external distress. Moreover, we suggest potential maternal roles in fostering children's healthy development.
This study provides insight into a lingering question across research on housework and childcare-how do men justify and explain their involvement in the household division of labor? Thirty-seven semi-structured interviews were conducted from March to August 2017 with cisgender, married men in the United States. Data collection and analysis occurred simultaneously following a grounded theory approach. The majority of men estimated spending less time per week in housework and childcare tasks compared to their wife and reasoned that this arrangement was fair. The three main justifications men used to account for time discrepancies were using mathematical representations, distinguishing between equity and fairness, and invoking comparison cases. We contextualize these findings using distributive justice theory. This study has implications for understanding why gender inequality persists in the household division of labor, family counselors, those seeking justice within the home, and policymakers.
Bullying is a growing reality in school environments around the world and describes aggressive, intentional, and repetitive behaviors, which involve an inequality of power between those involved, be it physical, social, emotional, or psychological. The present study analyzed the role of different parental styles and emotional regulation in bullying behaviors. The sample consisted of 416 adolescents aged 12-17 years. The Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire was used to measure the perception that adolescents have regarding the parental styles of caregivers, the Social Exclusion and School Violence Questionnaire was used to assess the individual's degree of involvement in bullying behaviors and to evaluate the difficulties in emotional regulation the Emotional Regulation Difficulties Scale was used. A t-test, correlation analyses and structural equation models were performed. In this study, significant associations were observed between authoritarian parenting styles, both paternal and maternal, and bullying behaviors, showing positive correlations with victimization and aggression. Furthermore, the results indicated that democratic parenting styles are negatively related to difficulties in emotional regulation. Specifically, the maternal authoritarian parenting style contributed significantly to less effective emotional regulation, while the paternal democratic parenting style is associated with greater emotional regulation in adolescents. The results of the analysis were discussed, considering the importance of parental styles and emotional regulation in bullying. Considering these results, it may be useful to develop specific strategies to deal with bullying situations, covering the entire community, and promoting awareness about bullying behaviors.
In the networked era, digital platforms have redefined how intimacy is expressed, sustained, and dissolved. This paper explores the role of WhatsApp in mediating romantic relationships among young Indians, focusing on how its affordances both nurture and destabilize emotional bonds. Drawing on 25 semi-structured email interviews with unmarried participants who experienced being blocked by partners, the study reveals that constant digital connectivity through messaging, voice notes and "last seen" monitoring creates a sense of "connected presence," echoing Giddens' notion of the "pure relationship." Yet, this same connectivity renders intimacy fragile, reflecting Bauman's "liquid love," where affection is sustained through technological mediation but easily ruptured through blocking, ghosting and digital withdrawal. Participants described emotional distress, obsessive surveillance and self-doubt following digital disconnection, alongside instances of deceptive love that culminated in coercion, sexual exploitation and bodily objectification demonstrating the persistence of patriarchal control in virtual spaces. Coping mechanisms included reliance on friends, family, spirituality and creative engagement, with gender shaping both emotional vulnerability and resilience. The study situates these experiences within broader structures of social exclusion and gendered inequality, showing that digital intimacy is inseparable from offline hierarchies. By integrating the frameworks of Giddens, Bauman and feminist phenomenology, the paper advances a sociological understanding of how WhatsApp mediates both connection and rupture in contemporary romance, revealing the emotional precarity of love in a digitized world.
Given today's trend of parents frequently sharing about their children on social media, we aimed to address the mediating role of polished sharenting between the significance quest, the desire for being liked, and marital satisfaction. Although numerous studies have examined constructs related to marital satisfaction, investigating the associations of the significance quest-an essential universal human need-along with the desire to be liked and polished sharenting, which is practiced by many parents, with marital satisfaction can be considered an innovative contribution. A total of 428 married parents between the ages of 21-64 (X=35.30) participated in this study conducted in Turkey. We used convenience sampling to reach the participants and collected the data through online processes. We used Significance Quest Scale, Desire for Being Liked Scale, Polished Subscale of the Sharenting Scale, and Marital Life Scale to collect data. We analyzed the data using structural equation modeling. As a result of the study, we found that polished sharenting mediates the relationship between significance quest and marital satisfaction. On the other hand, it was found that there was no mediating role of polished sharenting in the relationship between the desire to be liked and marital satisfaction. It can be stated that these findings are noteworthy in suggesting that the significance quest, as in the existing literature, is not only associated with extreme constructs such as terrorism, violence, aggression, and addiction, but may also be related to experiences and perceptions such as marital satisfaction. Limitations and various implications of the findings were also discussed.
This study explores how education and employment influence household decision-making autonomy among married women in India. Using data from 72,170 women in the 2019-2021 Indian Demographic and Health Survey and latent class analysis, we identify three distinct household decision-making profiles: Egalitarian (66.65%), where decisions are made jointly; Conservative (18.85%), where men primarily make decisions; and Independent (14.49%), where women make decisions on their own. Multivariate analysis shows that women with higher education than their partners and those who are economically active are more likely to belong to the Independent or Egalitarian groups. Partners' education and employment also significantly shape women's decision-making, with higher-educated women married to employed partners exercising greater autonomy. The findings reinforce feminist epistemological accounts of entrenched patriarchy and structural gender inequality. Current programs supporting employment in the country remain insufficient to advance women's autonomy, highlighting the need to eliminate any requirement for male consent or decision in employment or education.
Past research has examined gender differences between mothers' and fathers' ties with their adult children but not how these ties are interdependent. Through semi-structured interviews with 34 American parents - 23 mothers and 11 fathers, this study explores how support is initiated among married couples and their attitudes toward spousal involvement. Findings revealed that mothers initiated childcare of grandchildren and emotional support more than fathers, while fathers provided financial assistance. Mothers in this study encouraged their husbands' involvement in childcare whereas fathers' initiation of financial support was seen by wives as less open to mutual involvement. This study contributes to our understanding of parent-adult child relationships by highlighting the gendered patterns in parental support and the interconnections between mothers' and fathers' support to their adult children.
This study aims to examine whether generative AI could simulate parenting data reflecting theory-driven patterns across parental gender and child developmental groups. Using ChatGPT-4, synthetic responses were generated based on the structure of the Parenting Authority Questionnaire-Revised (PAQ-R) and informed by a deep review of the relevant literature. The dataset included 600 simulated parent profiles (mothers and fathers of typically developing, ADHD, and ASD children). A two-way MANOVA revealed significant main and interaction effects, aligning with theoretical expectations (formulated as structured hypotheses): authoritative parenting was highest among mothers of typically developing children and declined notably in non-typically developing groups, while authoritarian parenting was most elevated among fathers of children with ADHD. These findings suggest that AI can produce synthetic data capturing structured, theory-consistent differences in parenting styles. The results highlight the potential of AI-based data simulation as a useful methodological tool in family and developmental research, offering scalable opportunities for theory testing and model validation.
We assess the heterogeneity in the motherhood impact on labor market outcomes by fertility timing. Using a difference-in-differences method with staggered treatment adoption, we estimate the motherhood impacts across groups defined by the age of first birth and compare the trajectories of the impacts. Empirical results reveal a convex relationship: postponing motherhood entry during the mid-to-late 20s mitigates wage-earning losses, whereas delays during the 30s exacerbate the negative impact. This pattern suggests the existence of an optimal fertility timing for minimizing the motherhood penalty. The heterogeneity is particularly pronounced in the short- and medium-term after entering motherhood and is primarily driven by variations in hours worked, rather than wage rates or working status. These findings suggest that differences in labor supply responses are the main margin through which fertility timing affects the motherhood impact.
Despite solid research on the detrimental consequences of punishing children, it remains prevalent. Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting (PDEP) is an 8-week, group-based program designed to help parents to move away from a punishment orientation and toward positive parenting. The current study examined PDEP outcomes through interviews with 31 Canadian parents of children aged 2-6 years who completed the program as part of a multi-method project evaluating the efficacy of PDEP. The parents were primarily partnered mothers who provided information about benefits across the four core components of the PDEP approach (identifying long-term goals; providing warmth and structure; understanding how children think, feel, and problem-solving). Parents also provided suggestions for program improvement. Audio-recorded and transcribed interviews were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis. Parents noted positive changes in themselves (greater self-reflection and regulation), in their children (improved well-being), and in the child-parent relationship (greater connection, communication, trust). Benefits were noted in terms of shifts in parenting behaviors, using warmth and structure, and improved conflict resolution skills. The findings contribute to the research literature on PDEP's impacts on parenting practices and on the child-parent relationship.
This article explores cultural orientations in the processes of getting and staying married in contemporary Turkey. Based on 21 qualitative interviews with married Turkish people, the study examines how individuals navigate partner selection and marital conflict between the poles of independence and interdependence. Theoretically, it combines cultural sociology, especially the work of Eva Illouz, with cultural psychology, drawing on the writings of & Ccedil;i & gbreve;dem Ka & gbreve;& imath;t & ccedil;& imath;ba & scedil;& imath;. Two main pathways to marriage are identified: interdependent, family-involved arrangements, and independent, self-directed partner choices. In both cases, family approval remains central. Conflict practices also reflect culturally shaped patterns: rather than embracing the Western ideals of open communication and psychological self-reflection which, for example, Eva Illouz has highlighted, Turkish participants often emphasize patience, silence, and the preservation of marital privacy. Psychological terminology and therapeutic ideals play a limited role in their accounts of marital conflict. Furthermore, conflicts are frequently perceived not only as issues between two partners but also involving extended family. This paper contributes to debates on culturally specific modernization processes and calls for a nuanced, culture-sensitive analysis of romantic and marital dynamics.
The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of self-disclosure on intimacy satisfaction and its mechanism. 408 couples who were in love were recruited and tested with self-disclosure scale, disclosure response and perceived response scale, positive emotion scale and intimate relationship satisfaction scale. Results found that: (1) There was a significant positive correlation among self-disclosure, response, positive emotion and intimacy satisfaction. (2) Self-disclosure not only directly and significantly positively predicted intimate relationship satisfaction, but also had an indirect effect on intimate relationship satisfaction through the mediating role of response, positive emotion. (3) & quot;response positive-emotion & quot; played a chain mediating role in the impact of self-disclosure on intimacy satisfaction, and the single mediating role of positive emotion is no longer significant. This shows that in the influence path of self-disclosure on intimacy satisfaction, response is a more important and key factor than positive emotion, which reflects the importance of intimate interaction.
This report provides an overview of the state of families in Austria, a Central European country with a mixed welfare regime. It is based on the most recent data from Austria's National Statistical Institute, Statistics Austria, and recent reports from the Austrian Institute for Family Studies (OIF). It also includes findings from the Austrian Generations and Gender Survey (GGP.AT) and the latest Austrian Family Report (2021) issued by the Federal Chancellery. Key findings include demographic data on families and households, marriages, fertility, divorces, and poverty rates, as well as spotlights on education and migration. The report also details the challenges faced by Austrian families and the Austrian state programs offered to help families navigate these challenges. It concludes that Austria's welfare mix and its emphasis on families' "freedom of choice" have limited impact, as conservative and neoliberal policies coexist within a persistently traditional normative context.
The subjective experience of infertility and Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART) treatments is crucial for research and clinical practice. This study introduces the Infertility History Interview (IHI), a semi-structured clinical tool developed from clinical experience and theory to assess awareness and narrative integration of infertility experiences. 86 patient narratives were analyzed using a psychodynamic approach, revealing four thematic clusters (Couple History, Search for Pregnancy, Coping, and Family Nest) and three underlying factors (Path, Parental Project, Meaning-making Process), representing conscious and unconscious emotional dimensions. The IHI offers clinicians a structured method to assess patients' psychological processing of infertility, supporting personalized care and targeted interventions. These findings emphasize the importance of infertility awareness assessment in ART patients to improve clinical evaluation and support.
