Delayed Child Rearing, More Stressful Lives

Steven Greenhouse:

A new study finds that delayed marriage and childbearing are leading to increased stress for American men and women in balancing work and family obligations.

Noting that the median age for first marriage is 28 for men and 26 for women, the study, "Family Change and Time Allocation in American Families," says, "Delayed marriage and childbearing heighten the likelihood that the greatest child rearing demands come at the same time that job and career demands are great - particularly among the well-educated."

The study adds, "Delayed childbearing also increases the likelihood that one's parents may begin to suffer ill health and need assistance before one's children are fully launched." In other words, many men and women feel hugely stretched and stressed trying to help out their not fully independent 20-something children at the same time the health of their octogenarian parents is failing.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at December 30, 2010 4:32 AM
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