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Having too many children is more unfulfilling than having none at all, academics have discovered.
Parents with more offspring than they wanted reported the lowest levels of life satisfaction in a survey of more than 23,000 adults.
It comes as fertility rates in Europe hit a record low – with British couples having just 1.4 children on average.
Researchers at the University of Berlin analysed data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study that asked participants how many children they had and how many they ideally wanted.
They divided the cohort into five groups: those who were child-free by choice, those who wanted children but couldn’t have them, parents who had their ideal number of children, and those who had more or fewer than desired.
Participants then rated their overall life satisfaction, taking into consideration factors such as work-life balance and relationship status.
Results showed almost everyone fell short of their fertility desires. But only one group experienced a clear decline in mental wellbeing – those who had more children than they had wanted.
However, not having children – whether by choice or circumstance – was not linked to lower wellbeing.
Having too many children is more unfulfilling than having none at all, academics at the University of Berlin have discovered
Parents with more offspring than they wanted reported the lowest levels of life satisfaction in a survey of more than 23,000 adults
Dr Laura Buchinger, the study’s lead author, said: ‘Exceeding one’s fertility desires was robustly linked to lower wellbeing in both women and men.’
The phenomenon is likely a result of the hidden costs of parenthood, the researchers suggested.
Dr Buchinger added: ‘Our results suggest that the stronger sociocultural expectations placed on women are offset by the heavier burdens of motherhood.
‘By contrast, women without children have more time for career pursuits, financial independence, and the development of social networks and hobbies – all factors linked to healthy aging.’
Previous research has connected motherhood with lower self-esteem and relationship satisfaction, due to the physical and emotional labour typically shouldered by women.
Mothers are responsible for more than 70 per cent of household tasks, whereas fathers handle just 43 per cent, a 2025 study revealed.
