The Mental Health of Iranian Permanent and Temporarily Voluntarily Childless Women

Background: Childlessness has become one of the major challenges of modern societies. The number of fertile married childless women, deciding not to have children, is increasing in different countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mental health of voluntarily childless women (permanently or temporarily) in order to determine their psychological characteristics.Methods: In this cross sectional study, fertile childless women, who were married for 2 years, were recruited March-December 2017 in order to assess the mental health of voluntarily childless women. A total of 161 voluntarily childless women (76 women in the permanently childless group and 85 women in the temporarily childless group) completed the demographic questionnaire and general health questionnaire (GHQ-28).Results: The average score of GHQ-28 in temporarily childless women were 20.01 (13.6). The mental health of 63 (74.2%) temporarily childless women was normal (0-22), while 22 (25.8%) women had a mental disorder ( 23). The results also showed that the average total score of GHQ-28 was 22.3 (SD, 17.4) in the permanently childless group. The mental health of 52 (68.5%) permanently childless women was normal (0-22), while 24 (31.5 ) KDG D PHQWDO GLVRUGHU ( 23); WKH highest and lowest scores were reported in the subscales of depression and physical symptoms. Overall, mental health were better in the temporarily childless group, compared to thepermanently childless group. The difference was statistically significant in the domains of general health, social functioning and mental health (p<0.001).Conclusion: Considering the low level of mental health among women who decide to stay childless permanently, psychological counseling is necessary to help them decide rationally and reduce the negative consequences of childlessness.Message for policymakers:The study of health, psychological characteristics, and personality traits of these women who decide to stay childless permanently and identification of their specific needs are essential.

Keywords:

Mental health , Voluntary childlessness , women