According to a new study, you might be better off not having kids at all. That’s the general findings of a new study published in the journal Demography anyway. Canadian demographer Rachel Margolis led the research, which was performed in Germany and subsequently titled “Parental Well-Being Surrounding First Birth as a Determinant of Further Parity Progression.” According to participants in the study, the unhappiness caused by the birth of their first child was worse than losing their job, getting divorced, or even experiencing the death of a partner. It’s worth noting that this study only covered parenthood in the first two years of the child’s life rather than asking parents of elementary school-aged kids, middle schoolers, or even high schoolers felt like, so chances are much of the displeasure reported is due to the intensity of those first years.
- Did having kids make you temporarily miserable?