Guide to Child-Rearing and Maternal Roles
In a world grappling with the pressing issue of climate change, concerns about its impact are increasingly influencing personal decisions, particularly those related to starting a family. A growing body of research suggests that the decision to have children is becoming inextricably linked with worries about the environment.
One individual grappling with this dilemma is Yessenia Funes, the climate editor at Atmos. As a bisexual Latina and daughter of immigrants, Funes is questioning whether to conceive due to concerns about climate change and its potential impact on her future children. Her personal stake in America's first climate election underscores the significance of this issue.
Sabrina Helm, an associate professor of consumer sciences at the University of Arizona, conducted research that reveals many people feel climate anxiety and guilt about having children due to the potential impact of climate change. Some participants in her study also expressed hope and saw children as a reason to make the world better.
Ellen Peters, the director of the Center for Science Communication Research at the University of Oregon, explains that the origins of climate anxiety and guilt about having children vary among individuals. She suggests that emotions, including negative emotions about climate change, help individuals navigate complex decisions. However, she advises people to think deeply about the pros and cons of having children in the context of climate change and their personal values, but she does not offer a definitive answer.
The main risk in the climate crisis is Climageddon, a huge and terrifying risk. Yet, it's important to note that no individual has the power to solve climate change, even if they take small steps to reduce their impact. Peters suggests getting out to vote as a way to feel like one is doing their part in addressing climate change.
Some individuals base their decisions on data and understanding the long-term impact of climate change, as Yessenia Funes does. She wonders how to pass on what she's learned about climate change if she and others contemplating the crisis stop having children.
Studies show that climate-related anxiety, environmental instability, and fears about the planet’s future are increasingly shaping reproductive intentions and family planning choices. People are not only questioning whether they can afford to have children economically but also whether the environment can sustainably support them[1][2][5].
Direct health risks for pregnant people and babies, such as greater risks of preterm birth, low birth weight, and complications from heat waves and pollution, also factor into decisions on childbearing[3][4]. These reproductive concerns related to climate are linked to adjustments in consumer behavior, for example, in increased demand for sustainable products or adoption of low-impact lifestyles, though direct research on consumer behavior changes connected to climate-driven fertility decisions is less extensive[1][5].
In summary, recent studies from diverse contexts confirm that the decision to have children increasingly integrates climate change concerns, contributing to shifts in fertility preferences and indirectly influencing consumer behavior as individuals weigh environmental sustainability in their life choices[1][2][5]. Yessenia Funes and others like her are not alone in their struggles to balance personal and environmental concerns. The future of our planet and the families we choose to bring into it are deeply intertwined.
[1] Helm, S. A., & Nisbet, M. C. (2016). Climate change and the future of American families: An empirical examination of the relationship between climate change beliefs and fertility preferences. Climatic Change, 137(3), 441-451.
[2] Kauer, M., & Arbuckle, J. L. (2017). Climate change and reproductive decision making: A qualitative study of young adults in the United States. Journal of Family Issues, 38(13), 1853-1870.
[3] Cheng, R. T., & Hwang, S. (2019). Climate change, pregnancy, and birth outcomes in the United States. PLoS Medicine, 16(10), e1002891.
[4] Hwang, S., & Cheng, R. T. (2017). Climate change and maternal and child health in the United States. Journal of Environmental Health, 80(1), 1-10.
[5] Kaufmann, C. (2017). Climate change and reproductive intentions: The role of personal values and emotional responses. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 58, 23-32.
- Amidst growing concerns about climate change, the decision to have children is becoming significantly tied to environmental worries.
- Yessenia Funes, the climate editor at Atmos, is a concerned individual weighing the impact of climate change on her future children as she contemplates starting a family.
- Sabrina Helm's research reveals that many people experience climate anxiety and guilt about having children due to the potential effects of climate change.
- Ellen Peters points out that emotions, including negative feelings about climate change, aid individuals in making complicated decisions like starting a family.
- In imagining a solution to climate change, it's essential to recognize that no single person holds the power to solve this crisis, even when adopting eco-friendly habits.
- Yessenia Funes questions her role in passing on her climate change knowledge should she and others decide not to have children due to the crisis.
- Climate-related anxiety, environmental instability, and concerns about the planet's future are leading people to reassess their reproductive intentions and family planning choices, including adjustments in consumer behavior towards sustainable products and low-impact lifestyles.
