Emotional Response to Discrepancy Among Parents and Childless: An Empirical Investigation

• In Event: 606 - Section on Social Psychology Roundtable Session (co-sponsored with Section on Sociology of Emotions)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 04. Stigmatized Identities

Abstract

Parenthood represents one major normative aspect of adult life. Recently, however, the number of individuals choosing to not have children is rising. In the past, this choice has been studied as a stigmatized identity. This paper compares the normative identity (being a parent) with the counter-normative one (being childless). Approaching the topic from the perspective of identity theory, the analysis examines individuals’ emotional response to a discrepancy within their specific identity. Group structural equation modeling, and a nationally representative sample including both parents and childless individuals, allows for the direct comparison of five specific emotional responses to discrepancy as well as two under-explored identity concepts: stability and cognition. The five models estimated reveal that while childless individuals experience higher levels of discrepancy, it does not emotionally impact them in the same way as parents. As more individuals are “doing family” without children, understanding how this identity impacts them is imperative.

Author

• Brooke Louise Long, Kent State University