What Makes Parenthood Rewarding: An Exploratory Analysis of Perceived Advantages of Having Children

Abstract Despite the heavy cost this endeavor entails, most people choose to have children, indicating that they see the advantages of parenthood as exceeding its disadvantages. Accordingly, the current research aimed to identify what these advantages are. More specifically, using qualitative research methods on a sample of 298 Greek-speaking parents, we identified 77 possible advantages of having children. Subsequently, using quantitative research methods on a sample of 832 Greek-speaking parents, we classified these advantages into seven broad factors and two broader domains. Participants reported that intrinsic advantages, including experiencing love and other positive emotions, giving meaning to life, and enabling parents to become better persons, as more important. Extrinsic advantages, such as serving a higher purpose, expanding one’s social circle with other parents, having someone to be there for you, and strengthening one’s intimate relationship, were considered less important. We found sex differences on several factors, with women tending to rate them as more advantageous than men. Additionally, parents with older children tended to rate most factors as more advantageous. Overall, we have found that parents in the Greek cultural context perceive parenthood to be associated with several diverse advantages.