Parenthood and Parental Wellbeing: Exploring Diverse Trajectories and Influences

In recent decades, the concept of parenthood has evolved into a more diverse and complex notion, shaped by shifts in social organization, family structures, and welfare systems, as well as by evolving legal frameworks and advancements in reproductive technologies. These transformations have redefined the essence of becoming a parent, opening new opportunities while posing significant challenges.

The transition to parenthood is influenced by a wide range of factors that, in many countries, have contributed to a trend toward late or latest-late fertility. Prolonged educational paths, career ambitions, and economic instability — particularly in Western countries — have led to a rising average age for women at the time of their first child. Simultaneously, assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have expanded possibilities for parenthood but also introduced complex legal, ethical, and cultural questions that vary across national and social contexts. These shifting parenthood trajectories raise critical issues regarding parental wellbeing, encompassing both physical and mental health.

The shifting parenthood trajectories described above raise critical issues regarding parental wellbeing, encompassing both physical and mental health.

Parenthood experiences are further shaped by socio-economic and gendered inequalities and the design of welfare systems, which influence parents’ ability to meet family needs, manage the mental and emotional burdens of parenting, and make long-term reproductive decisions. Factors often overlooked — such as obstetric violence, postpartum depression, and parental regret — also significantly affect the experience and wellbeing of parents, challenging traditional narratives around family and reproduction.

This Research Topic seeks to explore the wide range of factors influencing parental wellbeing and the diverse trajectories of parenthood. It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of these dynamics through interdisciplinary approaches, welcoming contributions from varied geographical, socio-economic, and cultural contexts to ensure a rich diversity of perspectives and experiences.

We invite interdisciplinary submissions from sociology, demography, psychology, gender studies, policy studies and public health. Contributions can be theoretical, methodological, or empirical in nature, and we particularly encourage studies addressing the following themes:
• Wellbeing and mental load in parenthood: examining the effects of factors such as obstetric violence, postpartum depression, and the division of family labor on parental experiences and trajectories

• Parental regret: investigating the phenomenon of parental regret and the factors that contribute to it in the context of becoming a parent

• Paths to parenthood: exploring the distinctive features of natural conception, adoption, and ART, and their impact on parenthood experiences and outcomes

• Gendered and socio-economic inequalities and fertility trajectories: how do gendered socio-economic factors shape reproductive decisions and fertility trajectories?

• Late and latest late fertility: what are the unique characteristics and challenges of delayed parenthood in different social and cultural contexts?

• Social narratives and reproductive paths: how do prevailing discourses around reproductive and family models influence diverse parenthood trajectories?

• Welfare systems and healthcare: what role do welfare policies and healthcare systems play in supporting or hindering parental wellbeing?

By gathering contributions that reflect diverse perspectives, this Research Topic seeks to advance the understanding of how contemporary parenthood is shaped by the interplay of structural, cultural, and personal factors. We look forward to receiving submissions and to furthering the conversation on these critical aspects of parenthood and parental wellbeing.