Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

12-1988

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Human Ecology

Major Professor

Priscilla White

Committee Members

Kermit Blank, Cheryl Buehler, Suzanne Kurth

Abstract

The timing of a first pregnancy has long been accepted as both a social and biological event which occurred for most American women in their early twenties. Advances in contraceptive technology and medical science have permitted women greater latitude in choosing the age at which they initiate childbearing. As a result more women have decided to delay the onset of childbearing until well into their thirties. Very few studies, however, have examined the implications of delayed childbearing.

Recent evidence suggests that the age at which a woman experiences a first pregnancy may also be instrumental in the process of her adult development. This study attempted to identify characteristics related to Erikson's developmental stages of intimacy and generativity in pregnant women. Intimacy was defined as that stage of development in young adulthood which is characterized by friendships, affiliation, sexual unions and varying degrees of self-disclosure. Generativity was defined as an interest in teaching and guiding younger generations and broader social concern.

For purposes of comparison the sample was divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 71 women under age 30 who were considered to be "on-time" childbearers. The second group consisted of 39 women who were identified as "late-timing" child bearers. Scores for intimacy and generativity between these two groups revealed no significant difference in intimacy scores between on-time and delayed childbearers. Women under 30, however, had significantly higher generativity scores than women over 30.

Demographically the two age groups were similar to other studies comparing on-time and delayed childbearers in that the older women were characterized as having more education, more second marriages, higher income, and more amniocenteses.

The results of this study are not conclusive but suggest that the age at which a woman initiates childbearing may have developmental implications. Childbearing status may be an integral part of adult developmental models for women.

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