American fertility rates continue to be at record lows, as women increasingly opt out

of bearing children.

However, that doesn't mean the social pressure to have a family has declined at the same

rate.

Today, we'll explore the main reasons behind the choice to be child-free, plus five

tips for how to come to your own decision.

Welcome back to The Savvy Psychologist.

I'm your host, Dr. Monica Johnson.

Every week on the show, I'll help you face life's challenges with evidence-based approaches,

a sympathetic ear, and zero judgment.

Today, we are talking about childlessness.

The conscious decision made by women to forego having children.

To be clear, I am not talking about women who have dealt or are dealing with infertility,

but rather about women who view the prospect of motherhood as a choice rather than a predetermined

milestone.

When we dig into the reasons why this is happening, we see there have been many shifts since

American fertility rates were at their peak in the 1950s.

The shift towards increasing childlessness reflects a variety of social trends.

These include, but are not limited to, access to contraception and abortion, women's increased

opportunity for education and focus on career growth, and changing attitudes towards mothering.

Generally speaking, in my practice as a psychologist, I have seen attitudes towards mothering operate

on a continuum.

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