Women who delay pregnancy and become older moms might make better parents who raise more well-behaved and successful children. A new study highlighted the benefits of women having children at a later age.
Researchers from Norway's Aarhus University conducted the study involving 4,741 Danish moms with kids in the ages of seven, 11 and 15. The findings were published in the European Journal of Developmental Psychology.
Experts learned that older moms experienced less behavioral problems with their 7-year-old and 11-year-old kids. They were the type who did not enforce physical discipline and yet were effective at imposing boundaries for their younger children.
The older moms in the study also experienced less emotional conflicts with their 15-year-old kids. Their children were also socially well-adjusted. The Danish study implied that an older mom's maturity as a big factor to their good parenting skills.
"We know that people become more mentally flexible with age, are more tolerant of other people, and thrive better emotionally themselves," co-study author Dion Sommer said, as per Science Daily. "This style of parenting can thereby contribute to a positive psychosocial environment which affects the children's upbringing."
An older mom's age begins at 35-years-old. It is generally considered as the high-risk age for pregnancy because a pregnant mom, at this point, has greater chances of risks and complications, as per NPR.
Aside from emotional maturity, experts said an older mom's financial capacity and the stability of her relationship with herself and other people makes her less anxious and stressed. Thus, she can better focus on raising a baby.
Several studies already showed the benefits of being an older mom, such as living longer, having more energy, and raising taller and smarter kids, according to Time. Older moms might be judged for delaying pregnancy or having babies in advanced age, but these benefits show they might have made the right choices after all.
