The Effect of Having Children on Happiness in Europe: Empirical Evidence from the COVID-19 Period

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 14 Sayı: 3, 1660 - 1682, 30.09.2025

Keziban Altun Erdoğdu

https://doi.org/10.15869/itobiad.1690747

Öz

The COVID-19 pandemic, as in many parts of the world, was an extraordinary social experience that profoundly affected parents’ daily routines, work habits, and family dynamics in Europe. Within the scope of social distancing measures, the closure of schools and the mandatory shift to remote work increased parents’ domestic responsibilities, created various challenges related to children’s education, and consequently led to conflicts between work and family life. Parents who lost their jobs due to contractions in the labor market also faced economic difficulties. The literature shows that this process affected parents’ happiness in Europe and that such happiness varied according to parents’ demographic and economic characteristics. However, existing studies have mainly focused on specific demographic and economic indicators. Furthermore, these studies have largely disregarded the possible effect of remote work on the happiness of parents living with their children during the pandemic. Addressing these limitations, this study examines the effect of having children on individuals’ happiness in European countries. For this purpose, data from the COVID-19 module of the European Social Survey were analyzed using linear regression methods. Variables included in the analyses comprise the age, number, and gender of children aged 12 and above, as well as whether they live in the same household as the parent. The results show that having at least one child aged 12 or older during the pandemic positively affected individuals’ happiness in Europe; however, this effect varied according to their demographic and socio-economic characteristics. In contrast to previous studies, the findings indicate that unemployment or increased frequency of remote work among parents living with their children during the pandemic had negative consequences for their happiness. Moreover, parents in young and middle-aged groups, as well as those whose children were under 24 years old, experienced a negative impact on their happiness levels. Based on these findings, the study suggests policy measures to enhance parents’ happiness in Europe during challenging periods such as the COVID-19 pandemic, including the development of financial and psychological support programs and the expansion of childcare support.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Europe , Having Children , Happiness , COVID-19 Pandemic , Demographic and Socio-Economic Characteristics of Parents

Avrupa’da Çocuk Sahibi Olmanın Mutluluk Üzerindeki Etkisi: Covid-19 Döneminden Ampirik Bulgular

Öz

Covid-19 pandemisi, dünyanın çeşitli bölgelerinde olduğu gibi Avrupa’da da ebeveynlerin günlük yaşam rutinlerini, çalışma alışkanlıklarını ve ailevi dinamiklerini derinden etkileyen sıra dışı bir toplumsal deneyim olmuştur. Sosyal mesafe önlemleri kapsamında okulların kapatılması ve evden çalışmanın zorunlu hale gelmesi, ebeveynlerin ev içi sorumluluklarının artmasına, çocukların eğitimiyle ilgili çeşitli zorluklarla karşılaşmalarına ve dolayısıyla iş ve aile yaşamında çatışmalar yaşamalarına neden olmuştur. İşgücü piyasasındaki daralmaların etkisiyle işsiz kalan ebeveynler de ekonomik güçlüklerle karşılaşmışlardır. Literatürde bu sürecin, Avrupa’da ebeveynlerin mutluluğu üzerinde etkili olduğu ve bu mutluluğun ebeveynlerin demografik ve ekonomik özelliklerine göre değiştiği gösterilmiştir. Ancak literatürdeki çalışmalar, belirli demografik ve ekonomik göstergelere odaklanmıştır. Ayrıca bu çalışmalarda, pandemi süresince çocuklarıyla aynı konutta yaşayan ebeveynlerin evden çalışmasının mutluluk üzerindeki olası etkisi göz ardı edilmiştir. Bu çalışmada, söz konusu sınırlılıklar dikkate alınarak, Avrupa ülkelerinde çocuk sahibi olmanın bireylerin mutluluğu üzerindeki etkisi incelenmiştir. Bu amaç için Avrupa Sosyal Araştırması’nın Covid-19 modülüne ait verileri doğrusal regresyon yöntemiyle analiz edilmiştir. Bu doğrultuda, 12 yaş ve üzeri çocukların yaşı, sayısı, cinsiyeti ile aynı evde yaşama durumunu gösteren değişkenler analizlere dahil edilmiştir. Çalışmanın sonucunda, pandemide 12 yaş ve üzeri en az bir çocuğa sahip olmanın Avrupa’daki bireylerin mutluluğunu olumlu yönde etkilediği; ancak bu etkinin bireylerin demografik ve sosyo-ekonomik özelliklerine göre farklılık gösterdiği bulunmuştur. Literatürden farklı olarak, pandemide çocuklarıyla birlikte yaşayan ebeveynlerin işsiz olması ya da evden çalışma sıklıklarının artması mutlulukları açısından olumsuz sonuçlar ortaya çıkardığı belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca, ebeveynlerin genç ve orta yaş grubunda yer alması ve çocuklarının 24 yaşından küçük olması, mutluluk düzeyleri üzerinde olumsuz bir etkiye sahip olduğu da tespit edilmiştir. Bulgular doğrultusunda, Avrupa’daki ebeveynlerin Covid-19 gibi zorlu süreçlerle karşılaştıklarında daha mutlu olabilmeleri için, mali ve psikolojik destek programlarının geliştirilmesi ve çocuk bakımına yönelik desteklerin artırılması yönünde politika önerilerinde bulunabilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Avrupa , Çocuk Sahibi Olmak , Mutluluk , Covid-19 Pandemisi , Ebeveynlerin Demografik ve Sosyo-Ekonomik Özellikleri

Kaynakça

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