Putting a Child First Makes Parents Happier: Life Improved by Selflessness

Parents often put their children first, placing them at the center of family life. Yet there could be a reason behind this particular phenomenon. Scientists have discovered that parents who prioritize their children's well-being over their own are not only happier, but also derive more meaning in life from their child-rearing responsibilities.

"These findings stand in contrast to claims in the popular media that prioritizing children's well-being undermines parents' well-being," wrote the researchers in a news release.

In order to better understand how child rearing might impact the happiness of parents, the researchers conducted two studies with a total of 322 parents. In the first study, the parents were asked to complete a child-centrism scale to measure their parenting style. They were then given a survey to measure the happiness and meaning in life that they experienced from having children by responding to statements such as, "My children make my life meaningful."

In the second study, the volunteers were asked to retell their previous day's activities and report how they felt during each activity. In the end, the scientists found that more child-centric parents were significantly more likely to report higher happiness and a sense of purpose in life. In addition, they found that these parents had more positive feelings, less negative ones and experienced more meaning in life during child-care activities.

"These findings suggest that the more care and attention people give to others, the more happiness and meaning they experience," wrote the authors in a news release. "From this perspective, the more invested parents are in their children's well-being-that is, the more 'child-centric' parents are-the more happiness and meaning they will derive from parenting."

The findings reveal that putting a child first doesn't necessarily interfere to a parent's happiness. In contrast, this behavior seems to actually improve a parent's well-being. The findings could better inform future studies into parenting and child behavior.

The findings are published in the journal Social Psychological & Personality Science.