While childfree and childless couples appear similar in member composition, the issues that each classification of family faces are distinctly different. This article will present literature-based data on the demographics, unique strengths, and clinical needs of each family system, leading to implications for family counselors.
BlythE.BurrV.FarrandA. (2008). Welfare of child assessments in assisted conception: A social constructionist perspective. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 26, 31–43.
6.
Central Statistics Office (2000). Social trends. London, England.
7.
ChangS. N.MuP. F. (2007). Infertile couples’ experiences of family stress with women are hospitalized for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome during infertility treatment. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 17, 531–538.
8.
DanilukJ. C.TenchE. (2007). Long-term adjustment of infertile couples following unsuccessful medical intervention. Journal of Counseling & Development, 85, 89–100.
9.
GillespieR. (2001). Contextualizing voluntary childlessness within a postmodern model of reproduction: Implications for health and social needs. Critical Social Policy, 21, 139–160.
10.
GillespieR. (2003). Childfree and feminine: Understanding the gender identity of voluntary childless women. Gender and Society, 17, 122–136.
11.
GoldJ. M.WilsonJ. S. (2003). Legitimizing the child-free family: The role of the family counselor. The Family Journal, 10, 70–74.
12.
HamiltonB. E.SuttonP. D.VenturaS. J.MenackerF.MunsonM. L. (2005). Births: Preliminary data for 2004. National Vital Statistics Reports, 54.
13.
HirdM. J.AbshoffK. (2000). Women without children: A contradiction in terms?Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 31, 347–76.
14.
LeeC.GramotnevH. (2006). Motherhood plans among young Australian women: Who wants children these days?Journal of Health Psychology, 11, 15–20.
15.
McAllisterF.ClarkeL. (1998). Choosing childlessness: Family and parenthood, policy and practice. London, England: Family Policy Studies Centre.
16.
NicholsW. C.Pace-NicholsM. A. (2000). Childless married couples. In NicholsW. C. (Ed.), Handbook of family development and intervention (pp. 171–88). New York, NY: John Wiley.
17.
ParkK. (2005). Choosing childlessness: Weber’s typology of actions and motives of the voluntary childless. Sociological Inquiry, 75, 372–402.
18.
PeronaceL. A.BoivinJ.SchmidtL. (2007). Patterns of suffering and social interactions in infertile men: 12 months after unsuccessful treatment. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 28, 105–114.
19.
RosinaA.TestaR. M. (2007). Childless; Italian attitudes and behaviors in the European context. Rivista di Studi Familiari. Special Issue: Childfree, 12, 71–81.
20.
SchmidtL. (2006). Psychosocial burden of infertility and assisted reproduction. The Lancet, 367, 379–380.
21.
SchneiderM. G.ForthoferM. S. (2005). Associations of psychosocial factors with the stress of infertility treatment. Health & Social Work, 30, 183–91.
22.
SmithJ. A.SmithA. H. (2004). Treating faith-based infertile couples using cognitive-behavioral counseling strategies: A preliminary investigation. Counseling and Values, 49, 48–63.
23.
StobertS.KemenyA. (2003, Summer). Childfree by choice. Canadian Social Trends. Retrieved fromhttp://www.statcan.ga.ca
24.
TessaroloM. (2006). Il Movimento Childfree. Rivista di Studi Familiari, 11, 47–58.
25.
ThomasI. M. (2005). Childless by choice: Why some Latinas are saying no to motherhood. Hispanic, 8, 50–54.