A new study reported by The Times reveals that parenthood, while generally linked to higher life satisfaction compared to remaining childless, does not guarantee happiness for all—particularly for those who begin parenting at a younger age or have multiple children. This nuanced insight challenges simplistic ideas about family, personal fulfillment, and mental health, raising essential questions for Thai families navigating choices about when, or whether, to start a family.
Across global societies, having children is often seen as a marker of adulthood and personal achievement. In Thailand, traditional values place family at the center of social life, with many expecting individuals to eventually marry and start families. But the latest research underscores that the benefits of parenthood are not the same for everyone, and factors such as the age of first-time parents, number of children, relationship quality, education, and economic security all play a critical role.
Researchers measured participants’ life satisfaction using the question, “Overall, how satisfied are you with your life nowadays?” on a scale from zero to ten. They found that, on average, parents—both mothers and fathers—reported greater life satisfaction than childless peers. However, mothers experienced more psychological distress than fathers, largely attributed to the additional demands of caregiving. The study analyzed mental health using the General Health Questionnaire, which screens for stress, anxiety, depression, and related emotional difficulties. To compare results, the researchers converted outcomes into standard deviation “Z-scores”—a method allowing differences in psychological wellbeing to be clearly quantified across the population.
Perhaps the most significant finding for young Thai couples, students, and family planners is that the younger parents are when their first child is born, the more likely they are to experience poor mental health. For every year older parents were at the birth of their first child, their risk of psychological distress decreased. As one co-author, a prominent university professor of sociology, explained, “Younger parents are at greater risk of poor mental health.” This insight offers a cautionary note for those considering early parenthood, whatever the motives might be.
So, why do parents report greater satisfaction overall? Experts say a major reason is the sense of meaning and fulfillment that parenthood brings, even with the daily stressors of raising children. “The reason we might see this is that in other literature parents report having greater meaning and more fulfillment in life, even with some of the daily stressors that might come along with being a parent,” the study’s co-author noted in the report. Another factor is the personal accomplishment of fulfilling a desire to have children.
However, the study also paints a complex picture about those who do not have children. Among people without children, the highest life satisfaction was found in those trying to have a child, followed by those wanting children but not currently trying, those who were unsure, and finally those who did not want children at all. Interestingly, males who expressed no desire for children had the lowest life satisfaction, while for females, those undecided about wanting children reported the lowest satisfaction. As the study’s co-author clarified, “Those who do want children tend to think they are going to be happier when they have them,” but stressed this should not be interpreted as pressure for everyone to pursue parenthood. Rather, individual fulfillment of personal fertility preferences appears crucial for wellbeing.
Socioeconomic and relationship factors also emerged as significant influences. For both parents and childless individuals, being in a stable, cohabiting relationship and living in a dual-income household consistently protected against psychological distress and boosted satisfaction. These protective effects were even stronger among parents, “suggesting that social and economic resources play a more pronounced role in buffering the mental health challenges associated with raising children,” the authors wrote. Level of education also mattered; people holding a university degree or higher reported fewer mental health challenges and higher satisfaction across all groups.
But, notably for Thai women balancing careers and family, educators found a downside for mothers with successful careers: an increased sense of “role captivity,” or feeling trapped in the parenting role and isolated from adult pursuits outside the family. This highlights the unique mental health risks facing modern working mothers in urban areas like Bangkok and beyond—where rising educational attainment and workforce participation interact with enduring expectations about women’s family roles.
Another concern was the link between family size and mothers’ mental health. The more children a mother had, the higher her risk of psychological distress and the lower her life satisfaction. As the study summarized: “A greater number of children was linked to worse mental health for females but not males. Females with more children reported significantly higher psychological distress and lower life satisfaction, reinforcing the notion that the mental health burdens of parenthood disproportionately affect mothers.” The finding aligns with research showing Thai women continue to shoulder the majority of childcare responsibilities, often without robust institutional support or affordable childcare options.
The study concluded that parenthood conveys only modest mental health benefits overall, with these benefits dependent on timing, family size, and socioeconomic circumstances. As such, simply having children is not a universal pathway to happiness. Instead, personal readiness, social support, and material resources play decisive roles.
In Thailand, where traditional family values are evolving alongside rising urbanization, later marriage ages, and a declining birthrate, these findings offer valuable guidance. Delayed parenthood is already becoming more common, with the average age of first-time mothers in Bangkok now close to 30, according to Thai public health statistics (Department of Health, Thai Ministry of Public Health). This dovetails with the study’s conclusion: waiting until greater financial and emotional stability yields better mental health outcomes for parents. Moreover, expanding affordable childcare, encouraging fathers’ involvement, and reducing the stigma on those who choose to remain childless could all help lessen the psychological strain on young and working mothers.
The historical context in Thailand is also instructive. For decades, high fertility rates fueled economic growth and rural family life. Today, however, Thailand faces one of the lowest birth rates in ASEAN, putting pressure on pensions and the healthcare system (United Nations Thailand Demographic Report). This transition must be managed with sensitivity so that social policies do not simply promote binary choices—early parenthood or lifelong childlessness—without considering the well-being of families and the support parents need, especially mothers.
Looking to the future, more research is needed to explore how Thailand’s shifting demographics, better education and greater gender equality will continue to reshape the mental health landscape for parents and non-parents alike. Public health campaigns, school counselors, and employers can play a role in equipping young people with information about the benefits and challenges of starting a family, and in supporting parents of all ages and circumstances.
For Thai policymakers and social planners, the actionable takeaway is clear: to maximize the positive impact of parenthood, ensure that family planning resources, parenting education, affordable childcare, and workplace flexibility are available nationwide. For individuals and couples, the key is to make these decisions thoughtfully, with self-awareness and attention to personal readiness—not out of societal pressure or idealized expectations.
For further reading, consult the original study summary reported here (thetimes.com), as well as recent demographic and wellbeing statistics from the Thai Ministry of Public Health and the United Nations Thailand Population Analysis.