http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/119376361

Women without children : the effects of childlessness on sex-role identity, psychological well-being, and life course schemas

Women without children (N = 158) between the ages of 38 and 50 (M = 43.3, SD = 3.6) were examined utilizing Mardy Ireland's (1993) theoretical framework of childlessness. As predicted, replication of Ireland's categorization of women without children was obtained. Three distinct groups of childless women were found (traditional, transitional, and transformative) based on their self-reported reason for not having children. Sex-role identity, psychological well-being, and working schemas of the life course were also examined as a function of childless group categorization. Results revealed limited differences by sex-role identity, and no differences by psychological well-being. However, group differences by working schemas of the life course were displayed. Findings revealed that women who chose not to have children used culturally discongruent life course schemas surrounding the role acquisition of marriage and motherhood. Implications for the theoretical understanding of childlessness were discussed.

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