Emotional disturbance in unplanned versus planned children

Abstract

Two samples of unplanned and planned children, matched for education, were compared for emotional disturbance on three different instruments. Unplanned children scored consistently higher, in some cases significantly so, particularly among the lower classes. In the second sample, mothers were also compared for neuroticism and for parental attitudes. Mothers of unplanned children scored higher, but not significantly so. No differences in maternal attitudes of rejection and protection were found. In the second study, unplanned children came from significantly larger families than did planned children. It is postulated that the greater the adversity of circumstance of the family, the more negative the effects of unplanned status will be on emotional adjustment.