The psychological burden of COVID-19 on the desire for parenthood in minoritized sexual identities: a study on depressive symptoms and family planning in Germany
Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the globe and is associated with significant clinical and humanitarian burden. The desire for parenthood has been described to be positively correlated with psychological well-being: An unfulfilled wish for parenthood is associated...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15127-7 |
| _version_ | 1797831913586556928 |
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| author | Falk Batz Eva Lermer Sonia Lech Grace O’Malley Alaleh Zati zehni Davina Zenz-Spitzweg Sven Mahner Joachim Behr Christian J. Thaler Pichit Buspavanich |
| author_facet | Falk Batz Eva Lermer Sonia Lech Grace O’Malley Alaleh Zati zehni Davina Zenz-Spitzweg Sven Mahner Joachim Behr Christian J. Thaler Pichit Buspavanich |
| author_sort | Falk Batz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the globe and is associated with significant clinical and humanitarian burden. The desire for parenthood has been described to be positively correlated with psychological well-being: An unfulfilled wish for parenthood is associated with impaired mental health, and the wish for parenthood is a predictor for the development of depressive symptoms. While higher rates of anxiety and depression have been reported in individuals with minoritized sexual identities (compared to heterosexual individuals) during the COVID-19 pandemic, the specific impact of the pandemic and its social restriction measures on this population is poorly understood. Methods From April to July 2020, we conducted an anonymous cross-sectional survey online among N = 2463 adults living in Germany. We screened for depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-4; PHQ-4) and assessed individuals’ desire for parenthood during the pandemic, and motives for or against the desire for parenthood (Leipzig questionnaire on motives for having a child, Version 20; LKM-20), with the aim of identifying differences between individuals with minoritized sexual identities and heterosexual individuals. Results Compared to heterosexual individuals (n = 1304), individuals with minoritized sexual identities (n = 831) indicated higher levels of depressive symptoms. In our study sample the majority of all participants (81.9%) reported no change in the desire for parenthood since the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion The findings underline the unmet need for social, psychological and medical support in regard to family-planning and the desire for parenthood during a pandemic. Furthermore, future research should explore COVID-19-related psychological consequences on individuals’ desire for parenthood and building a family. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:59:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d4448a5e792d47c7834d10cf1af3ac66 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:59:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-d4448a5e792d47c7834d10cf1af3ac662023-05-07T11:26:20ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-02-0123111110.1186/s12889-023-15127-7The psychological burden of COVID-19 on the desire for parenthood in minoritized sexual identities: a study on depressive symptoms and family planning in GermanyFalk Batz0Eva Lermer1Sonia Lech2Grace O’Malley3Alaleh Zati zehni4Davina Zenz-Spitzweg5Sven Mahner6Joachim Behr7Christian J. Thaler8Pichit Buspavanich9Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital, LMU MunichCenter for Leadership and People Management, LMU MunichInstitute of Medical Sociology and Rehabilitation Science, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt- Universität zu BerlinDepartment of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich Applied Business and Media Psychology, Ansbach University of Applied SciencesDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital, LMU MunichDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor FontaneDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital, LMU MunichDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor FontaneAbstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the globe and is associated with significant clinical and humanitarian burden. The desire for parenthood has been described to be positively correlated with psychological well-being: An unfulfilled wish for parenthood is associated with impaired mental health, and the wish for parenthood is a predictor for the development of depressive symptoms. While higher rates of anxiety and depression have been reported in individuals with minoritized sexual identities (compared to heterosexual individuals) during the COVID-19 pandemic, the specific impact of the pandemic and its social restriction measures on this population is poorly understood. Methods From April to July 2020, we conducted an anonymous cross-sectional survey online among N = 2463 adults living in Germany. We screened for depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-4; PHQ-4) and assessed individuals’ desire for parenthood during the pandemic, and motives for or against the desire for parenthood (Leipzig questionnaire on motives for having a child, Version 20; LKM-20), with the aim of identifying differences between individuals with minoritized sexual identities and heterosexual individuals. Results Compared to heterosexual individuals (n = 1304), individuals with minoritized sexual identities (n = 831) indicated higher levels of depressive symptoms. In our study sample the majority of all participants (81.9%) reported no change in the desire for parenthood since the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion The findings underline the unmet need for social, psychological and medical support in regard to family-planning and the desire for parenthood during a pandemic. Furthermore, future research should explore COVID-19-related psychological consequences on individuals’ desire for parenthood and building a family.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15127-7COVID − 19Minoritized sexual identitiesMinoritized gender identitiesMotives for parenthoodDesire for parenthood |
| spellingShingle | Falk Batz Eva Lermer Sonia Lech Grace O’Malley Alaleh Zati zehni Davina Zenz-Spitzweg Sven Mahner Joachim Behr Christian J. Thaler Pichit Buspavanich The psychological burden of COVID-19 on the desire for parenthood in minoritized sexual identities: a study on depressive symptoms and family planning in Germany BMC Public Health COVID − 19 Minoritized sexual identities Minoritized gender identities Motives for parenthood Desire for parenthood |
| title | The psychological burden of COVID-19 on the desire for parenthood in minoritized sexual identities: a study on depressive symptoms and family planning in Germany |
| title_full | The psychological burden of COVID-19 on the desire for parenthood in minoritized sexual identities: a study on depressive symptoms and family planning in Germany |
| title_fullStr | The psychological burden of COVID-19 on the desire for parenthood in minoritized sexual identities: a study on depressive symptoms and family planning in Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | The psychological burden of COVID-19 on the desire for parenthood in minoritized sexual identities: a study on depressive symptoms and family planning in Germany |
| title_short | The psychological burden of COVID-19 on the desire for parenthood in minoritized sexual identities: a study on depressive symptoms and family planning in Germany |
| title_sort | psychological burden of covid 19 on the desire for parenthood in minoritized sexual identities a study on depressive symptoms and family planning in germany |
| topic | COVID − 19 Minoritized sexual identities Minoritized gender identities Motives for parenthood Desire for parenthood |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15127-7 |
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