Late parenting experience: Fathers and mothers’ perceptions

Abstract

The objective of this study was to understand the experience of late parenting in the perception of fathers and mothers through exploratory and descriptive research, using a qualitative data analysis method. Five heterosexual couples married or cohabiting for over two years, in which women got pregnant after aging 35 years old, both spouses displaying professional activities, and having a firstborn child aged up to one year old participated in the study. A sociodemographic questionnaire and a semi-structured interview conducted with each participant separately was answered. Results demonstrated that all couples had planned pregnancies, which seemed to reflect on both spouses’ adaptability on parenting transition. Both mother and father perceived themselves to be engaged in parenting, and each parent recognizes the other as collaborative in the process. Finally, the results highlight the importance of researches that follow up social transformations that have repercussions in families, therefore researchers in this field are required to permanently observe it.