The childfree experience in the aging context: An investigation of the pro-natalist bias of life-span developmental literature

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Abstract
This paper reveals the pro-natalist bias of life-span developmental psychology which leads to theories of aging marked by transition points embedded in a family context. Psychology has stressed that child-rearing and parenting are «normal» for healthy adults. In doing this the literature assumes that people marry and have children, then age within that context. Those who choose a childless, single or homosexual lifestyle are necessarily excluded from life-span developmental theory. It is argued here that although children may create transition or stress points for parents, there may be many other experiences which also create these potential growth periods and which are relevant to all adults as they age. At present, the family life-cycle and the individual life-cycle are so strongly correlated that stage theories of mature development do not clarify whether aging itself or the family experience present people with «crisis» or transition periods in adulthood.
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