Americans are waiting longer to have kids. Back in the 1970s, the average age of first-time moms was 21. Today, it’s 26. In 1972, the average age of fathers of newborns in the U.S. was 27. Now it’s closer to 31.
But is it better to have your kids when you’re older or younger? A new study suggests having kids at an older age may have some benefits.
The study out of the Netherlands analyzed problem behaviors from more than 32,000 kids ages 10 to 12. The problem behavior was rated by fathers, mothers, teachers, and the children themselves.
The researchers found older-than-average-age parents tended to have children with fewer externalizing behavior problems, such as aggression.
The study’s authors did note that older parents generally tend to have more resources and a higher education but found the children’s behavior was not solely due to their parent’s income level.
This report comes after several other studies found a link to older fathers and increased risk for autism and schizophrenia in their children, whereas older mothers are more prone to issues during pregnancy.
The Netherlands study suggests that parents should not need to worry about increased risk of everyday externalizing behavior problems if they choose to have kids later in life.
The study found no link to the parents’ age and children’s internalizing behavior problems, such as anxiety and depression.