Study: Parents in Europe finding 'less satisfaction, more meaning'

"People who have children are not automatically more satisfied and are sometimes even more dissatisfied - but they are more likely to feel that their own lives are meaningful and valuable," said Ansgar Hudde from the University of Cologne, co-author of the study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family.

The fact that parents are on average more dissatisfied than childless people tends to apply more to women than to men, according to the researcher.

This is particularly true for women who, for example, are single parents or still very young, do not have higher educational qualifications or live in a country with poor childcare provision.

"You can generally say that where parenthood is particularly challenging, it comes at the expense of satisfaction," Hudde said.

Life with children seen as meaningful and valuable

In contrast, the relationship between parenthood and meaning in life is similar across socio-economic groups and national contexts: On average, those who have children perceive their lives as more meaningful and valuable.

The analysis, co-authored by sociologist Marita Jacob, is based on data from over 43,000 participants who were interviewed as part of the European Social Survey.

Two central components of well-being were analysed in adults with and without children: Life satisfaction and meaning in life.

Nordic parents score better in both areas

The researchers found that in Nordic countries, children not only give parents more meaning in life, but also more satisfaction.

"The Scandinavian countries are generally quite child-friendly," said Hudde. "Many people value children and there is very good childcare provision. We [in Germany and other countries] have also adopted things like parental allowance from Sweden, for example."

The Scandinavian governments have long striven to relieve the burden on parents both financially and in terms of time, and always with an equal opportunities perspective.

"This is obviously bearing fruit," said the researcher.

Waning German family support needs new impetus

In the case of Germany, Hudde believes that the results of the study are relevant for future policy after lagging success in recent years.

"At the end of the 2000s, many people internationally were amazed at how much German family policy had moved forward - with the expansion of daycare centres and parental allowance based on the Scandinavian model. There is hardly any sign of this momentum today."

In many countries, there is also a change in mentality as more people seek to not just get their kicks and improve their quality of life, but to frame this in a more impactful context.

"People don't just want to have fun, they also want their lives to make sense," said Hudde. "That they contribute to something bigger than themselves - and many find that in parenthood."