Permanent childlessness: Perceived advantages and disadvantages among older persons

This study examines the perceptions of childlessness reported by 287 childl ess respondents aged 55 and over who were part of a larger study (n = 678) on aging and social support. Sixty-seven per cent (n = 193) report advantag es to childlessness and 64 per cent (n. = 185) report disadvantages. Qualit ative data show that key perceived advantages are fewer worries or problems , financial benefits, greater freedom, and career flexibility. The major di sadvantages are lack of companionship/being alone/loneliness, lack of suppo rt and care when older, and missing the experience of parenthood. Bivariate and multivariate analyses of the effects that gender, marital status, age, and childless status (childless by choice or by circumstance) have on the perceived advantages and disadvantages of having no children show that ther e is variability in perceived advantages only. When we compare specific per ceived advantages and disadvantages to related experience, only some percei ved benefits (financial advantage) are associated with actual experience. F indings are discussed in the context of actually experiencing costs and ben efits versus sharing widely-held beliefs about childlessness.