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Younger Age at First Childbirth Predicts Mothers’ Lower Economic and Psychological Well-Being Later in Life

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Abstract

Age at first childbirth affects mothers’ economic and psychological well-being later in life. Using a gender and power framework, two studies examined the associations among age at first childbirth, employment status, perceived choice, and race/ethnicity as predictors of economic and psychological well-being in a sample of middle class, married mothers (Study 1) and a nationally representative sample of married mothers (Study 2). Results indicated younger age at first childbirth is associated with less choice; lower educational attainment; lower SES; greater household labor; greater perceived chore discrepancy; lower self-esteem; less life, work, and relationship satisfaction; but is unrelated to depression or work stress. There were differences by employment status and minimal differences by race/ethnicity. The findings suggest that negative economic and psychological outcomes later in life are related to having one’s first child at a younger age.

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This research was supported by a Faculty Fellowship from the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation awarded to Amy Marcus-Newhall and Judith LeMaster.

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Casad, B.J., Marcus-Newhall, A., Nakawaki, B. et al. Younger Age at First Childbirth Predicts Mothers’ Lower Economic and Psychological Well-Being Later in Life. J Fam Econ Iss 33, 421–435 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-012-9289-0

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