'Nobody comes to help us': lived experiences and needs of older adults who lost their only child in China

PURPOSE

This qualitative study aimed to gather insights into the experiences of older adults after losing their only child and explore meaningful life needs as a basis for social interventions.

METHODS

We conducted individual face-to-face interviews with 29 participants from 10 communities in Changsha, Hunan Province, China. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and then analysed using the inductive category development of conventional content analysis.

RESULTS

The experience of losing an only child was devastating and linked with a helpless life in old age. The analysis generated the following three themes encompassing their lived experiences and needs: afraid of getting sick, lying on the edge of misery and surrounded by loneliness.

CONCLUSIONS

Losing an only child triggered older adults' feelings of being misunderstood, disconnected and hopeless. They had an increased likelihood of lacking more on love and belonging, esteem and self-actualization needs than their physiologic and safety needs. Findings from our study will raise awareness on this vulnerable group and help design intervention programmes targeting the specific needs of this neglected segment of the population.

Predictive risk factors before the onset of familial rheumatoid arthritis: the Tatarstan cohort study

Background

A familial history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) predisposes an individual to develop RA. This study aimed at investigating factors associated with this conversion from the Tatarstan cohort.

Methods

A total of 144 individuals, referred to as pre-RA and at risk for familial RA, were selected 2 years (range: 2-21 years) before conversion to RA and compared to non-converted 328 first-degree relatives (FDR) from RA as assessed after ≥2 years follow-up, and 355 healthy controls were also selected (HC). Preclinical parameters and socio-demographic/individual/HLA genetic factors were analyzed when data were available at the time of enrollment.

Results

As compared to FDR and HC groups, pre-RA individuals were characterized before conversion to RA by the presence of arthralgia, severe morning symptoms, a lower educational level, and rural location. An association with the HLA-DRB1 SE risk factor was also retrieved with symmetrical arthralgia and passive smoking. On the contrary, alcohol consumption and childlessness in women were protective and associated with the HLA-DRB1*07:01 locus.

Conclusion

Before RA onset, a combination of individual and genetic factors characterized those who are at risk of progressing to RA among those with familial RA relatives.

The Causes and Role of Antinatalism in Poland in the Context of Climate Change, Obstetric Care, and Mental Health

Antinatalism is an umbrella term for numerous moral dilemmas associated with procreation. In the past few years, the deterioration of environmental conditions, social difficulties, global worsening of people's mental health, and pandemics have induced discussion about antinatalism. Therefore, we aimed to characterize antinatalists in the Polish population in terms of the frequency and description of the main reasons behind this phenomenon. The cross-sectional study was performed in the Polish population. An online, four-part survey was performed between 19 and 25 January 2022. The study group comprised 1240 respondents. Antinatalists (n = 472, 38%) were defined as people who do not have children and want to be childless in the future, whereas pronatalists (n = 768, 62%) consisted of people who want to have offspring in the future and/or already have children. The opinion that climate change is a significant reason not to have a child appeared twice as often among antinatalists. Additionally, the performed binary logistic regression model highlighted the importance of the fear of climate change as an independent factor facilitating an antinatalistic attitude. Regarding females, the following factors discouraging them from having a child were observed: fear of child's congenital diseases, pregnancy complications, dissatisfaction with medical services, and fear of exacerbation of maternal chronic diseases. Anxiety, depression, and stress were not found to be statistically different between pro- and antinatalist groups. However, further analysis revealed that female antinatalists were significantly more depressive and anxious. Our study helps us to understand why, as mentioned beforehand, around 38% of respondents prefer to stay childless. In conclusion, antinatalism views have become relatively prevalent in society, and its reasons include environmental antinatalism and medical factors, including depression and anxiety. However, better access to medical services and changes in climate politics were not found to be significant factors in encouraging society to decide to have offspring.

Delaying, debating and declining motherhood

Trends of delayed childbearing have accompanied declining birth rates and increasing numbers of childless adults in the USA. Women may postpone parenting in order to save money, find a partner, and get a 'family-friendly' job, but this reproductive strategy may not always be effective. This paper uses two waves of longitudinal data to track childless women's reproductive decision-making and behaviours. During wave 1, interviews were conducted with 72 childless US women between the ages of 25 and 40 about their reproductive desires and intentions. Approximately four years later, a subset of the original sample participated in surveys to assess consistencies between fertility intentions and outcomes, and in-depth interviews to elicit information about changes in their lives that transpired. Whereas some wave 2 participants had fulfilled their goal of becoming parents, the majority were still employing a delaying strategy or had declined to have children. Delayed childbearing was individually strategic for those who could garner resources to be in a better financial or social position to have and raise children, while others kept facing barriers that prevented them from realising their reproductive goals or changed their mind about their fertility intentions and desires.

Why DID they have children? Rural midlife women who are childfree

There remain strong social pressures and attitudes in the United States about feminine identity, especially the expectation of conforming to the role of mother. Ideal femininity and being a mother are often intrinsically linked. Childfree women, those women who choose not to become mothers, face limited understanding, appreciation or acceptance to remain in a non-parenting role and are often presumed as less feminine or caring. This qualitative exploratory study of 10 childfree midlife women in a predominantly rural area of a Midwest state examines how reactions and attitudes of others affected self-esteem and feminine identity through a retrospective lens. Primary themes identified: Motherhood, as underscored by social and societal expectations and stigma; Personal Choice; and Feminine Self-Esteem are addressed. The influence of rural settings is also considered in the discussion. Recommendations for practice with older childfree women are provided.

Childless by circumstance - Using an online survey to explore the experiences of childless women who had wanted children

Childlessness is increasing globally. This study aimed to explore the experiences of childless women who had wanted children. An online survey study was promoted through social media to recruit women aged ≥46 years who were childless by circumstance. The survey remained open for 15 days. In total, 303 survey responses were collected, 176 of which were complete surveys. In total, 15.3% (27/176) of women who had wanted children reported that they had not tried to have children, most commonly due to the lack of a partner (40.7%, 11/27). Of the 139 women who had tried to have children, 70.5% (98/139) had used calendar-based menstrual cycle tracking methods to identify their fertile window, and many had undergone fertility checks including hormone tests (75.5%, 105/139) and ultrasound scans (71.2%, 99/139). A significant proportion of women had experienced a miscarriage (40.2%, 56/139). Many women had decided not to have any fertility treatment (43.2%, 60/139). For those who did, the majority had tried in-vitro fertilization (74.6%, 59/79). The most common reason that women gave for stopping fertility treatment was due to emotional reasons (74.7%, 59/79). When asked how women felt now about their childlessness, the most common issues identified were unhappiness (85/158, 54%), acceptance (43/158, 27%) and happiness (30/158, 19%). There should be more support for unsuccessful fertility patients and other childless women, and more emphasis should be placed upon fertility education in order to ensure that women are better informed about fertility issues.

What role can videogames play in the COVID-19 pandemic?

Video games are often thought of as trite activities for younger generations. However, research in game studies over the last few decades have revealed that games can be valuable tools for growth and connection, particularly among older generations. Exploring the ways digital games can be used as tools for connection has gained increased attention in recent months with global quarantines as a result of COVID-19. This article reviews the research that has examined the utility of digital games for older adults, focusing specifically on the ways in which games can be tools for social connectedness and psychological healing for older adults and intergenerationally. Special focus will be placed on the role games can play for post-traumatic stress among first responders.

You don't want kids?!: Exploring evaluations of those without children

We examined perceptions of those without children in a pre-registered study. Women who made a conscious decision not to have children (i.e., childfree) and women without children for unknown reasons were evaluated more negatively than mothers and those unable to have children (i.e., childless). Few differences were observed in evaluations of male targets as a function of parental status. Although we expected gender differences whereby childfree women would be evaluated more negatively than childfree men, this was not observed. Evaluations also did not vary as a function of perceiver gender. Those higher in social dominance orientation had more negative evaluations of childfree and childless women operating through ascription to traditional gender roles. The same pattern existed for male targets but was no longer supported when statistically controlling for singlism.

What role can videogames play in the COVID-19 pandemic?

Video games are often thought of as trite activities for younger generations. However, research in game studies over the last few decades have revealed that games can be valuable tools for growth and connection, particularly among older generations. Exploring the ways digital games can be used as tools for connection has gained increased attention in recent months with global quarantines as a result of COVID-19. This article reviews the research that has examined the utility of digital games for older adults, focusing specifically on the ways in which games can be tools for social connectedness and psychological healing for older adults and intergenerationally. Special focus will be placed on the role games can play for post-traumatic stress among first responders.

Depression and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Young Adult Breast Cancer Patients: The Mediating Role of Reproductive Concerns

Biological motherhood plays an important role in the lives of many young women facing breast cancer and threats to reproduction may be disruptive. In this study, we explored the indirect effects of the importance of parenthood and childlessness on depression and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among cancer patients 18-40 years of age (n = 104) through reported reproductive concerns. These specific concerns fully mediated the relationship between the importance of parenthood in women's lives and HRQoL. Greater importance of parenthood was directly associated with higher depression symptoms. Interventions should address the reproductive needs and concerns of patients to improve their HRQoL.

Association of Childless Couples Of Ghana (ACCOG)

The Association of Childless Couples of Ghana (ACCOG) is a Ghanaian non-faith based Non-Governmental Organization. ACCOG provides a platform for childless couples to find options for accessible infertility care. It provides counselling and other support services to childless couples to enable them to cope with their situation.

Childless Elders in Assisted Living: Findings from the Maryland Assisted Living Study

We compared data drawn from a random sample of 399 current assisted living (AL) residents and a subsample of 222 newly admitted residents for two groups: childless AL residents and AL residents with children. The percentage of childless AL residents (26%) in our study was slightly higher than US population estimates of childless persons age 65 and over (20%). In the overall sample, the two groups differed significantly by age, race and women's years of education. The childless group was slightly younger, had a higher percentage of African American residents, and had more years of education than the group with children. In the subsample, we looked at demographic, functional, financial and social characteristics and found that compared to residents with children, fewer childless residents had a dementia diagnosis, received visits from a relative while more paid less money per month for AL and reported having private insurance. As childlessness among older adults continues to increase, it will become increasingly important to understand how child status affects the need for and experience of long-term care.