Parenting Orientations in Young Adulthood: Predicting Timing of Parenthood and Quality of Postpartum Caregiving

Abstract

Most but not all adults become parents, yet it remains unclear which characteristics indicate an orientation toward parenting. The aims of this study were to (a) distinguish profiles of individual and interpersonal resources in young adults that may orient them toward parenthood and (b) investigate whether profiles predicted timing of entering parenthood, postpartum parenting behavior, and parent–infant bonding. Participants were 1,429 young people (53% female) enrolled in an Australian 39-year longitudinal study. Predictor data for latent profile analysis were collected at 23–24 and 27–28 years. Parenthood timing was designated as “early” ≤25 years, “on-time” >25 years, and “not a parent” b..