Science Says Pregnancy Can Be Contagious
Baby fever often sets in at a certain age and seems to spread once one of your friends gets pregnant. But who knew that pregnancy could also be contagious?
We all know the feeling of scrolling through Facebook and see that a friend from high school is having a baby. Then another. Then another. Eventually everyone is having children and maybe it's time that you did too?
A 2014 study from the American Sociological Association published a study examining whether or not pregnancy is contagious. After studying 1700 women, they found links between friendship and getting pregnant and that environment and personal interactions influence when women decide to start a family.
Pregnancy announcements will spark baby fever
Be prepared to feel left out once your friends start having children!
Another study detailed the links between high school friends and that they will often become pregnant within 6 to 12 months of one another.
Friends influence more than family
Make sure you choose your friends wisely as they are influencing the size of your family! Friendships can also influence how many children women have and how confident they are being a parent! People will often feel 'left out' if they have less children than their friends.
Women will feel more confident in motherhood after seeing their friends have children
Plus women want to keep up with their friends having children! If they have one child and their friend has four they may feel left behind.
Will you be next?
Ultimately, researchers believe it comes down to three main factors:
Social learning: Women want to have children when they see friends doing it successfully.
Social Influence: Women don't want to fell 'left behind'.
Cost-Sharing: If women can coordinate activities such as child care, this can lower cost and save money!
Which one do you think will affect you?
