Chapter 5: Reasons, Views, and Values Toward Becoming A Parent: A Mixed-Method Examination

In the United States, there is a significant and growing proportion of childfree adults; however, the vast majority of people choose to become parents. Given the continued importance of parenting, research is needed to continue to explore reasons for parenting, views related to parenting, and values that inform parenting decisions. This cross-sectional, mixed-method study included a convenience sample of 76 parents from across the United States. Thematic analysis was used to identify the most prevalent reasons why the sample decided to parent, and Spearman correlations and chi-square analyses were used to explore potential demographic trends among the sample. Primary reasons for parenting included (a) love for children, (b) desire for family, (c) interest in creating life, and (d) desire to parent. Most demographic information was not associated with participants’ reasons, views, or values related to parenting; strong views or values about the importance and centrality of becoming a parent as a crucial part of life were found. However, there was not a clear decision-making process or clear indication of cognitive reasoning among participants about how or why they arrived at their beliefs, indicating that parents may not really think much about their plan to parent.