Regretting Parenthood - When Parents Regret Having Children

Many people assume that being a parent brings happiness. Society views parenthood as a source of meaning and as the natural next step at a certain point in life. Yet this notion is increasingly being questioned—not only by researchers but also by those directly affected. In the SRF podcast Regretting Motherhood, a mother affected by this shares openly that she regrets becoming a parent and has ambivalent feelings about her role (SRF, 2024). International studies show that such experiences are not isolated cases. This article examines what lies behind the phenomenon of “Regretting Parenthood,” which factors are associated with it, and what areas of action and support options can be derived from it—both at the societal level, in terms of professional and community support services, and at the individual level.