An exploration of parental age in relation to parents’ psychological health, child adjustment and experiences of being an older parent in families formed through egg donation

Jadva, Vasanti; Lysons, Joanna; Imrie, Dr Susan; Golombok, Professor Susan

doi:10.1016/j.rbmo.2022.03.029

Cited by 9 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 49 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The study by Boivin et al (2009) of first-time parents with school-aged children conceived via various MARs, including IVF, ICSI, and donor insemination, found that older mothers and fathers (≥38 years) expressed significantly less warmth towards, and perceived significantly less warmth from one another, compared to middle-aged and younger parents (<38 years). This finding was replicated by a recent study of 72 families with 5-year-olds conceived via oocyte donation ( Jadva et al , 2022 ), where it was found that parents in the oldest age group (≥45 years at child’s birth) reported poorer levels of couple relationship quality than those in younger age groups (<36, 36–40, and 41–44 years at child’s birth). The authors of both studies note that since expressions of love and affection have been found to decline steadily over the course of a relationship ( VanLaningham et al , 2001 ; Corra, et al , 2009 ), and since older parents are more likely to have been in their relationships for longer, this finding may be a reflection of this downward trend in affective display, rather than a genuine effect of older parenthood.…”

Section: Advanced Parental Age and Parental Psychological Wellbeingmentioning

confidence: 62%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The psychosocial outcomes of older parenthood in early to mid-childhood: a mini-review

Lysons

Jadva

2023

Human Reproduction

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Recent decades have seen a global trend towards delaying parenthood, referred to as the ‘postponement transition’. Whilst there is plentiful research regarding obstetric and paediatric outcomes related to delayed parenthood, relatively little is known about the psychosocial outcomes associated with advanced parental age during early and middle childhood. This mini-review examines the current literature regarding the psychosocial functioning of families headed by older parents. First, we give an overview of the literature that examines the psychological wellbeing of older first-time parents. We then review the literature regarding the quality of the parent–child relationship in older parent families. Finally, we discuss the psychosocial adjustment and cognitive development of children of older parents. We conclude with suggestions for future research avenues.

show abstract

Section: Advanced Parental Age and Parental Psychological Wellbeingmentioning

confidence: 62%

“…Some (e.g. Boivin et al , 2009 , Jadva et al , 2022 ), but not all, studies of older parents provide details of, or control for, use of fertility treatment. Consequently, the independent effects of parental age and other demographic factors on family psychosocial functioning can be difficult to disentangle.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The psychosocial outcomes of older parenthood in early to mid-childhood: a mini-review

Lysons

Jadva

2023

Human Reproduction

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Parenting stress was not found to be higher among egg donation families compared to IVF families in the first phase of the study (Imrie et al, 2019) but was associated with age in analyses examining the effects of age among egg donation parents in the current sample (Jadva et al, 2022). The physical demands associated with parenting may become more challenging as parents age (Meyer, 2020), and older parents may experience increased judgment from other parents (Jadva et al, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…It may be that the family and friends of older parents, being older themselves, may be less able to provide adequate support, and future research with this family type that distinguishes between different types of support (e.g., practical, emotional, financial) may be beneficial. Parenting stress was not found to be higher among egg donation families compared to IVF families in the first phase of the study (Imrie et al, 2019) but was associated with age in analyses examining the effects of age among egg donation parents in the current sample (Jadva et al, 2022). The physical demands associated with parenting may become more challenging as parents age (Meyer, 2020), and older parents may experience increased judgment from other parents (Jadva et al, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

A longitudinal study of families created using egg donation: Family functioning at age 5.

Imrie,

Lysons,

Foley

et al. 2023

Journal of Family Psychology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Findings are reported from Phase 2 of a longitudinal study of family functioning in heterosexual-couple families with 5 year olds conceived using identity-release egg donation. Seventy-two egg donation families were compared to 50 in vitro fertilization (IVF) families (ethnicity: 93% White British) using standardized observational, interview, and questionnaire measures. There were no differences between family types in the quality of mother–child or father–child interaction, apart from lower structuring by fathers in egg donation families. Egg donation mothers and fathers reported higher levels of parenting stress and lower levels of confidence and competence than their IVF counterparts. Egg donation mothers reported lower social support and couple relationship quality, greater anger toward their child, and perceived their child as more angry and less happy, compared to IVF mothers. Egg donation fathers showed greater criticism and anger toward their child, less joy in parenting, and were less satisfied with the support they received, than IVF fathers. Children in egg donation families showed higher levels of externalizing problems than IVF children as rated by mothers, fathers, and teachers, whereas they were rated as having higher levels of internalizing problems by teachers only. Externalizing problems were predicted by mothers’ lower initial social support, steeper increases in parenting stress and greater concurrent criticism, whereas internalizing problems were associated with poorer initial couple relationship quality as rated by mothers. Both were predicted by fewer gains in reflective functioning. There was a moderation effect such that parenting stress was a stronger predictor of externalizing problems for egg donation than IVF families.

show abstract

“…Sociodemographic factors, such as parental age, educational level and occupational status, have been associated with parental mental health [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. Furthermore, parental age has been related to family relationships [ 25 ] and low socio-economic status has been associated with more stressful family life situations [ 26 ]. In addition, parental mental health is related to gestational age [ 27 ], with maternal depression increasing the risk of prematurity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Giving Birth in Unpredictable Conditions: Association between Parents’ COVID-19 Related Concerns, Family Functioning, Dyadic Coping, Perceived Social Support and Depressive Symptoms

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: The way postpartum parents’ COVID-19-related concerns are associated with the family environment, support resources and depressive symptoms areunder-investigated. Methods: Two hundred and forty-three new parents (132 mothers, 111 fathers) completed self-report questionnaires within an 8-week period after birth. Parental concerns for COVID-19-related life changes were assessed with the COVID-19 Questionnaire, perceived social support with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, perceived family functioning with the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales IV Package, dyadic coping behaviors with the Dyadic Coping Inventory and maternal/paternal postnatal depression with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Results: (a) Higher levels of COVID-19-related concerns about daily life were associated with lower levels of family communication, satisfaction and increased depressive symptomatology in both parents, and with lower levels of family functioning in mothers; (b) Maternal health care COVID-19-related concerns were linked with lower levels of family communication, lower perceived social support and with an increase in maternal depressive symptoms; and (c) COVID-19-related concerns about neonate hospitalization were associated with increased maternal depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Τhese findings suggest that COVID-19-related concerns had a common negative effect on both postpartum mothers’ and fathers’ mental health and on certain aspects of family functioning.

show abstract

An exploration of parental age in relation to parents’ psychological health, child adjustment and experiences of being an older parent in families formed through egg donation

Cited by 9 publications

References 49 publications

The psychosocial outcomes of older parenthood in early to mid-childhood: a mini-review

The psychosocial outcomes of older parenthood in early to mid-childhood: a mini-review

A longitudinal study of families created using egg donation: Family functioning at age 5.

Giving Birth in Unpredictable Conditions: Association between Parents’ COVID-19 Related Concerns, Family Functioning, Dyadic Coping, Perceived Social Support and Depressive Symptoms

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About