The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of depressive symptoms on the perception of motives for wanting children, as well as the assessment of perceived costs and benefits of having children among individuals with mental health disorders. The relationship between mental illnesses and the desire to have children has been inadequately explored thus far, despite its high relevance for counseling and therapy.A quantitative online survey was conducted with 105 participants recruited through the outpatient psychotherapeutic clinic at the University of Cologne. The Value of Children (VoC) questionnaire was utilized to assess attitudes toward children. Motives for wanting children were measured using a series of self-developed items based on previous research, including the extended version of the Leipzig questionnaire on motives for wanting children (LKM-E). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the PHQ-9. Data analysis was performed using multiple linear regression.The results show that depressive symptoms were not significantly associated with the perception of the advantages or disadvantages of having children. No significant correlation was found with positive motives for wanting children. In contrast, there was a highly significant association between depressive symptoms and negative motives for wanting children (β=2.18, p<0,001), indicating a pessimistic view of parenthood among affected individuals.The findings suggest that the negative outlook of individuals with depression may lead to a pessimistic assessment of family planning. While the hypotheses regarding positive motives were not confirmed, identifying negative motives is important for psychotherapeutic interventions. The deviations from previous studies concerning the VoC scales may be attributed to different measurement methods and sample populations.Therapeutic professionals should actively integrate the topic of the desire to have children into their psychotherapeutic work to challenge cognitive distortions and facilitate a reflective engagement with potential desires for parenthood. Further studies with larger and more diverse samples are necessary to validate these findings and gain deeper insights into family planning among individuals with mental health issues.

Ziel dieser Studie war es, den Einfluss depressiver Symptome auf die Wahrnehmung von Kinderwunschmotiven sowie auf die Einschätzung der wahrgenommenen Kosten und Nutzen von Kindern bei psychisch erkrankten Personen zu untersuchen. Der Zusammenhang zwischen psychischen Erkrankungen und Kinderwunsch ist bislang nur unzureichend erforscht, obwohl er für Beratung und Therapie von hoher Relevanz ist. Es wurde eine quantitative Online-Befragung mit 105 Personen durchgeführt, die über die Hochschulambulanz für Psychotherapie der Universität zu Köln rekrutiert wurden. Zur Erhebung der Einstellungen zu Kindern kam der Value of Children (VoC)-Fragebogen zum Einsatz. Die Kinderwunschmotive wurden über eine Reihe eigens entwickelter Items erfasst, die sich an bisheriger Forschung, unter anderem der erweiterten Version des Leipziger Fragebogens zu Kinderwunschmotiven (LKM-E) orientieren. Depressive Symptome wurden mithilfe des PHQ-9 erhoben. Die Auswertung erfolgte mittels multipler linearer Regression. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass depressive Symptome nicht signifikant mit der Wahrnehmung der Vorteile oder der Nachteile von Kindern assoziiert waren. Ebenso zeigte sich kein signifikanter Zusammenhang mit positiven Kinderwunschmotiven. Hingegen bestand ein hoch signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen depressiven Symptomen und negativen Kinderwunschmotiven (β=2.18, p<0,001), was auf eine pessimistische Sichtweise auf Elternschaft bei betroffenen Personen hinweist. Die vorliegenden Befunde deuten darauf hin, dass die negative Sichtweise von Menschen mit Depressionen zu einer pessimistischen Einschätzung der Familienplanung führen kann. Während die Hypothesen zu positiven Motiven nicht bestätigt wurden, ist die Identifikation negativer Motive für psychotherapeutische Interventionen von Bedeutung. Die Abweichungen von früheren Studien hinsichtlich der VoC-Skalen könnten auf unterschiedliche Messmethoden und Stichproben zurückzuführen sein. Therapeutische Fachkräfte sollten das Thema Kinderwunsch gezielt in die psychotherapeutische Arbeit integrieren, um kognitive Verzerrungen zu hinterfragen und eine reflektierte Auseinandersetzung mit möglichen Elternschaftswünschen zu ermöglichen. Weitere Studien mit größeren und diverseren Stichproben sind erforderlich, um die Befunde zu validieren und vertiefte Einblicke in die Familienplanung von Menschen mit psychischer Erkrankung zu gewinnen.

Personally important decisions, like reproductive choices, may be challenging for individuals with clinical depressiveness, as indecisiveness is a common depressive symptom. This study examines whether decision-making modes related to reproductive behavior differ between individuals with and without clinical depressiveness (H1) and whether these modes remain stable over time, even after the birth of the first child (H2). Data stem from the German Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics (pairfam). Clinical depressiveness was measured using State-Trait Depression Scales and decision-making modes through items on reproductive behavior. H1 was analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and post hoc analysis of variance (ANOVA); H2 via fixed-effect regressions and cross-lagged panel model. A significant group difference emerged in the combined decision-making modes (Pillai's trace = 0.009, F(6, 4832) = 7.32, p < 0.001). Individuals with clinical depressiveness engaged more in rational and avoidant modes, whereas those without favored normative decision-making. Decision-making remained stable between subjects; within-subject analyses showed alterations over time. Between subjects, decision-making remained stable. Characteristics of depressive symptoms and individual circumstances may explain the results. Future research should incorporate other clinical conditions and qualitative analyses. Practitioners should consider individual costs, benefits, and decisional postponement.

Background The experience of regretting parenthood is still associated with stigma. Limited knowledge currently exists about the prevalence and the underlying factors influencing this phenomenon. Objective This study examines the relationships between regret over parenthood and factors such as depression, value of children, demographic variables, and socio-economic background. Methods A hierarchical regression analysis was conducted using data from the 12th wave of the Relationship and Family Panel (pairfam). The sample consisted of 2100 individuals (M = 40.29 years; 62% female, 38% male). Results Eleven percent of the participants reported that they would not or would rather not choose to have children again. Regretting parenthood was associated with a younger parental age, an older age of the youngest child, more pronounced depressive symptoms, higher perceived psychosocial costs of the children, and lower socio-economic status; however, it was not associated with relationship status, gender, or perceived benefits of parenthood. Conclusion Targeted information campaigns should educate young people about the optimal conditions for starting a family and aspects of life planning to prevent regret over parenthood.

Die Erfahrung des Bereuens der Elternschaft ist nach wie vor mit Stigmatisierung verbunden. Bislang existieren nur begrenzte Erkenntnisse über die Häufigkeit und die zugrunde liegenden Faktoren, die dieses Phänomen beeinflussen. Diese Studie untersucht Zusammenhänge zwischen dem Bereuen von Elternschaft und Depressivität, Kosten-Nutzen-Erwartungen, demographischen Variablen sowie sozioökonomischem Hintergrund. Es wurde eine hierarchische Regressionsanalyse mit Daten der 12. Welle des Beziehung- und Familienpanels (pairfam) durchgeführt. Die Stichprobe umfasste 2100 Personen (M = 40,29 Jahre; 62

Objective Support needs in parenting decisions and the associated desire for information and counseling services are insufficiently researched, especially in relation to groups of people with mental health burdens. The aim of this study was to assess information and counseling needs in parenting decisions. In addition, we investigated whether more severe depressive symptomatology is associated with increased needs. Methods A sample of 187 individuals between the ages of 20 and 44 was surveyed in an online study. Results Not having enough information on the topic was expressed by 45% of participants, and the desire for information related to multiple topics. A larger offer of professional coun-seling was desired by 65% of the participants, 74% (rather) did not know where to get it. Existing counseling services were used infrequently in relation to needs and with predominantly moderate satisfaction. Greater depressive symptomatology was not associated with increased information or counseling needs. Discussion and Conclusion Findings suggest an expansion of support services on parenting decisions. Further research into the needs of different groups and barriers to using existing services is essential.

Individuals suffering from depression exhibit a higher rate of unintended pregnancies, which are associated with negative outcomes for both parents and children. Often, unintended pregnancies result from contraceptive mistakes. Here, we examine the relationship between depression and the consistency of contraceptive behavior, testing ambivalence as a possible mediator. The analyses were based on cross-sectional data from the second and third waves of the German Relationship and Family Panel Pairfam. A German-speaking sample without children (N = 190; 117 female, 73 male), who reported not attempting to conceive or become pregnant during the last 12 months, was analyzed in comparison with a propensity score matched sample. Ambivalence was operationalized as the difference between the ideal and realistic number of children in wave 2. Data from wave 3 were used to assess contraceptive behavior. Depressed mood in wave 2 and consistency of contraceptive behavior in wave 3 were negatively correlated. After including ambivalence in wave 2 as a mediator in the model, the direct path between depressed mood and consistency of contraceptive behavior remained significant, with no significant mediation found. For men only, we observed a significant negative association of ambivalence with the consistency of contraceptive behavior in the last 3 months. No significant relationship was found between depressed mood and ambivalence. We conclude that future research aiming to better understand the consistency of contraceptive behavior should incorporate measures of ambivalence.

OBJECTIVE:Support needs in parenting decisions and the associated desire for information and counseling services are insufficiently researched, especially in relation to groups of people with mental health burdens. The aim of this study was to assess information and counseling needs in parenting decisions. In addition, we investigated whether more severe depressive symptomatology is associated with increased needs. METHODS:A sample of 187 individuals between the ages of 20 and 44 was surveyed in an online study. RESULTS:Not having enough information on the topic was expressed by 45% of participants, and the desire for information related to multiple topics. A larger offer of professional coun-seling was desired by 65% of the participants, 74% (rather) did not know where to get it. Existing counseling services were used infrequently in relation to needs and with predominantly moderate satisfaction. Greater depressive symptomatology was not associated with increased information or counseling needs. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION:Findings suggest an expansion of support services on parenting decisions. Further research into the needs of different groups and barriers to using existing services is essential.

Value of children (VOC) as individually perceived costs and benefits of children may help explain fertility behavior. Depressive cognitive styles may influence these perceptions. Based on the data of waves two, four, six, eight, and ten of the German Family Panel pairfam, this study examined the differences between adults with and without depression concerning various aspects of their VOC using pooled ordinary least squares regression analyses. The sample consisted of N = 5,525 men and women aged 18-47 years either with depression (STDS ≥ 25) or without depression (STDS < 25) who did not have children yet. All aspects of perceived costs were significantly higher in subjects with depression. Concerning benefits, persons with depression showed significantly lower values in affection, stimulation, and comfort, and there was no significant difference concerning esteem as a possible benefit. As such, depression seems to negatively influence VOC in almost all aspects except for esteem benefits. Since social esteem as a benefit of VOC in parents predicts depression in offspring, this might be a cause for the intergenerational transmission of depression. To support individuals of childbearing age with depression in therapy, more research about the influence of depressive cognitions on VOC and fertility intentions is needed.

Background: Many studies have provided evidence for the effectiveness of Internet-based stand-alone interventions for mental disorders. A newer form of intervention combines the strengths of face-to-face (f2f) and Internet approaches (blended interventions). Objective: The aim of this review was to provide an overview of (1) the different formats of blended treatments for adults, (2) the stage of treatment in which these are applied, (3) their objective in combining face-to-face and Internet-based approaches, and (4) their effectiveness. Methods: Studies on blended concepts were identified through systematic searches in the MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Cochrane, and PubMed databases. Keywords included terms indicating face-to-face interventions (“inpatient,” “outpatient,” “face-to-face,” or “residential treatment”), which were combined with terms indicating Internet treatment (“internet,” “online,” or “web”) and terms indicating mental disorders (“mental health,” “depression,” “anxiety,” or “substance abuse”). We focused on three of the most common mental disorders (depression, anxiety, and substance abuse). Results: We identified 64 publications describing 44 studies, 27 of which were randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Results suggest that, compared with stand-alone face-to-face therapy, blended therapy may save clinician time, lead to lower dropout rates and greater abstinence rates of patients with substance abuse, or help maintain initially achieved changes within psychotherapy in the long-term effects of inpatient therapy. However, there is a lack of comparative outcome studies investigating the superiority of the outcomes of blended treatments in comparison with classic face-to-face or Internet-based treatments, as well as of studies identifying the optimal ratio of face-to-face and Internet sessions. Conclusions: Several studies have shown that, for common mental health disorders, blended interventions are feasible and can be more effective compared with no treatment controls. However, more RCTs on effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of blended treatments, especially compared with nonblended treatments are necessary.

•Evaluation of the interformat reliability of a widely used depression severity measure•Clinical sample•Crossover design