A new study has challenged the common assumption that women should have children before they turn 35. According to the researchers, the optimal age for becoming a mother is between 35 and 40 years old, based on various factors such as health, education, and income.
The study, published in the journal Population and Development Review, analysed data from 28 European countries and found that women who had their first child between 35 and 40 years old had better outcomes than those who had children earlier or later. The authors considered four dimensions of well-being: physical health, mental health, cognitive ability, and socio-economic status reports Huff Post.
The results showed that women who had children between 35 and 40 years old had higher levels of physical health and mental health than those who had children before 25 or after 40. They also had higher cognitive ability and socio-economic status than those who had children before 30 or after 45.
The authors explained that delaying motherhood can have several benefits for women, such as more time to pursue education, career, and personal development, as well as more financial stability and social support. They also argued that the biological risks of having children later in life are often exaggerated or outweighed by the advantages of being older and wiser.
The study challenges the conventional wisdom that women should have children as early as possible to avoid fertility problems and health complications. The authors suggested that women should have more freedom and flexibility to decide when to have children, based on their own preferences and circumstances, rather than on social norms and expectations.