Most people still view having only one child as less than ideal, despite the fact that several long term studies show that not only are singletons normal and not "less" than children with siblings, they may in fact be "more" in some areas.
Only Child Families Increasing, More than One Still Preferred
According to The U.S. Census Bureau, there were fewer children without siblings in 2004 than in 1991. While families today are more likely to prefer smaller families than prior to 1970, according to a June 2007 Gallup Poll, Americans still believe it’s better to have more than one child. On average they consider 2.5 the ideal.
Yet, according to Carolyn White, co-founder of Only Child Magazine ,there are an estimated 20 million only child households in the United States alone. "The percentage of women who have one child has more than doubled in the past 20 years up from 10% to over 23%," says White. "Only child families are the fastest growing families in this country and most industrialized Western European countries. According to the Census Bureau's Birth Expectation Survey, the number of women ages 18 to 34 in the United States who plan to have one child has increased steadily from 12.7% in 1985 to 13.9% today. In New York City over 30% of children are only children
Reasons Only Children Families Increasing
According to an article in The Economist (January 2001), "The decline in family size means that there will be proportionately more only children and more who are first born." Yet, most people who have only one child seem to be doing it for social or economic reasons, rather than by planned choice.
In her online article, "Behind the Smaller Family Trend," [Psychology Today, June 2008].Psychologist, Susan Newman, Ph.D, author of Parenting an Only Child [Broadway, 2001], lists key reasons why the only child segment is increasing:
- Women marrying later and starting their families later.
- Difficulty conceiving a second child
- Divorce rate remains at 50% which reduces time to have more children
- Men who re-marry and already have children often willing to only have one child in 2nd marriage
- Costs of raising and educating children have escalated.
- Adoption regulations have tightened.
- More women are in the workforce with young children and find managing job and several children too difficult.
Professional Stigma of Only Children Gone, Society's Perception Lags
According to Dr. Newman, "Many newer studies show only-children are not more aggressive, lonely, sickly, selfish or play with imaginary friends more than any other children." In addition, one of the most quoted experts in the field, Toni Falbo, professor of educational psychology and sociology at the University of Texas, explains that the professional view of only children as disadvantaged or deficient in some way is changing.
In an online article entitled, "Your one and only, Educational psychologist dispels myths surrounding only children," (University of Texas at Austin, Updated October 8th,2009), Kay Randall explains that a century’s worth of research revealed that only children are remarkably similar to children with siblings. In fact, they have a slight advantage in certain areas.
"Among other things," explains Dr. Falbo in the article, "research indicated that only children’s achievement as adults was somewhat higher than that of other children, especially when it came to educational attainment. Researchers hypothesized that this was because of the family’s increased financial resources and the uniquely close relationship that only children shared with their parents."
Despite the research and the fact that singleton families are on the rise, the public's perception about only children has been slow to change. It's likely however, as the gradual rise in only children families becomes more apparent and longitudinal studies continue to highlight why onlies aren't disadvantaged, the stereotypes will fade and children without siblings will blend in with all the rest.
Additional Resources:
Finding a Parent Support Group That Meets Your Needs
The Emotional Transitions of Motherhood
Laura Owens - Laura Owens has a B.S. in Psychology from Rollins College & U of FL. She is a freelance writer with expertise in motivation & wellness.
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