View in EDS

Reflections on timing of motherhood - a qualitative online study with women of reproductive age

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Reflections on timing of motherhood - a qualitative online study with women of reproductive age
Authors: Temmesen, Camilla Gry, Nielsen, Henriette Svarre, Birch Petersen, Kathrine, Clemensen, Jane
Source: BMC Womens Health
BMC Women's Health, Vol 24, Iss 1, Pp 1-13 (2024)
Temmesen, C G, Nielsen, H S, Birch Petersen, K & Clemensen, J 2024, ' Reflections on timing of motherhood-a qualitative online study with women of reproductive age ', BMC Women's Health, vol. 24, no. 1, 589 . https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03409-0
Publisher Information: Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Subject Terms: Adult, Parenting/psychology, Facebook, Denmark, Mothers, Social media, Young Adult, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Reproductive age, Pregnancy, Online focus groups, Humans, Women, Timing, Qualitative Research, Parenting, Reproduction, Research, Motherhood, Gynecology and obstetrics, Focus Groups, Mothers/psychology, RG1-991, Female, Public aspects of medicine, RA1-1270, Social Media, Postponing, Maternal Age
Description: Background The age of Danish women giving birth to their first child has risen throughout the last 50 years, and the number of women and men who are having their first child when they are at advanced maternal or paternal age is increasing worldwide. Postponing parenthood is not unique to Denmark, as the same pattern is seen especially in other European and Western countries. The aim of this study was in a social media setting to explore reflections on the timing of motherhood among Danish women of reproductive age who not yet had children. Method This study was a qualitative study based on three online focus groups on Facebook. Twenty-six women of reproductive age discussed the timing of motherhood for three days in January 2020. Data were analyzed using Systematic Text Condensation. Results Three main themes were identified: ‘Life before parenthood’, ‘To plan for a child’ and ‘A life without children’. Several external and internal conditions influence whether and if so when women consider becoming mothers. Regarding the biological capacity for having children, women compare themselves with their female relatives and friends and colleagues regarding the social norms surrounding motherhood. Women with no children often experience either positive or negative pressure from family, friends, and colleagues regarding when to have children. Conclusion Several internal and external considerations influence when and if women become mothers. Social surroundings such as family, friends, and colleagues have an impact on women’s reproductive considerations in terms of pressure to have children in the future. Danish women tend to compare their reproductive capacity to their female relatives and compare the social norms surrounding motherhood to their female friends. Women in this study were positive towards discussing the timing of motherhood with other women of reproductive age on social media.
Document Type: Article
Other literature type
File Description: application/pdf
Language: English
ISSN: 1472-6874
DOI: 10.1186/s12905-024-03409-0
Access URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39501239
https://doaj.org/article/4ec7dff4cc2f43b88d888e4c68a0227e
https://curis.ku.dk/ws/files/412381185/s12905_024_03409_0.pdf
https://portal.findresearcher.sdu.dk/da/publications/955bff7c-220f-41d3-8ce1-cb26b90cfa47
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03409-0
Rights: CC BY
Accession Number: edsair.doi.dedup.....a3ea2b5ed676ec3a4b1cb7dabe26e6f9
Database: OpenAIRE
Description
Abstract:Background The age of Danish women giving birth to their first child has risen throughout the last 50 years, and the number of women and men who are having their first child when they are at advanced maternal or paternal age is increasing worldwide. Postponing parenthood is not unique to Denmark, as the same pattern is seen especially in other European and Western countries. The aim of this study was in a social media setting to explore reflections on the timing of motherhood among Danish women of reproductive age who not yet had children. Method This study was a qualitative study based on three online focus groups on Facebook. Twenty-six women of reproductive age discussed the timing of motherhood for three days in January 2020. Data were analyzed using Systematic Text Condensation. Results Three main themes were identified: ‘Life before parenthood’, ‘To plan for a child’ and ‘A life without children’. Several external and internal conditions influence whether and if so when women consider becoming mothers. Regarding the biological capacity for having children, women compare themselves with their female relatives and friends and colleagues regarding the social norms surrounding motherhood. Women with no children often experience either positive or negative pressure from family, friends, and colleagues regarding when to have children. Conclusion Several internal and external considerations influence when and if women become mothers. Social surroundings such as family, friends, and colleagues have an impact on women’s reproductive considerations in terms of pressure to have children in the future. Danish women tend to compare their reproductive capacity to their female relatives and compare the social norms surrounding motherhood to their female friends. Women in this study were positive towards discussing the timing of motherhood with other women of reproductive age on social media.
ISSN:14726874
DOI:10.1186/s12905-024-03409-0