Redefining Marital Fulfillment: A Phenomenological Study of Childless Couples
Keywords:
Involuntary Childlessness, Childless Couple, Marital Fulfillment, Stigma Management Communication Theory, Social Parenthood, Marriage and Family CounselingAbstract
In pronatalist societies like the Philippines, involuntary childlessness is often stigmatized, challenging the identity of married couples. This study explores the lived experiences of five (5) couples who have remained childless for over five years, utilizing a qualitative phenomenological design grounded in Stigma Management Communication Theory (SMCT). Data gathered through in-depth, semi-structured interviews revealed that couples navigate their reality through specific identity negotiation strategies. The analysis identified four key themes: (1) the externalization of cause, where couples attribute infertility to medical realities and "God’s will" to buffer self-esteem; (2) an emotional dichotomy characterized by a tension between "ambiguous loss" and dyadic contentment; (3) the role of the extended family as a critical protective buffer against community stigma; and (4) adaptive coping through social parenthood. The study concludes that the Filipino value of "bahala na" functions as active spiritual surrender rather than passive fatalism, serving as a potent tool for stigma management. Recommendations focus on marriage and family counseling, specifically the integration of narrative reframing and spiritual interventions to foster resilience and validate non-biological parenting roles.
View or download full article here.
View or download full issue here.
Recommended Citation:
Herida, M. A., Hecera, R. M. A., Delosa, M. G. B., Socorro, R. M., Jimenez, D. F. S., & Omandam, M.
B. (2025). Redefining Marital Fulfillment: A Phenomenological Study of Childless
Couples. Ennoia Advances in Social Science, Technology and Education, 01(03), 4-18.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17946468
References
Adhikary, P., Mburu, G., Kabra, R., Abu Habib, N., Kiarie, J., Dhabhai, N., Chowdhury, R., & Mazumder, S. (2024). Intersectional analysis of the experiences of women who fail to conceive in low and middle income neighbourhoods of Delhi, India: Findings from a qualitative study. PLoS ONE, 19(7), e0304029. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0304029
Ahmadzadeh Tori, N., Sharif-Nia, H., Ghaffari, F., Behmanesh, F., & Pourreza, A. (2023). Effective factors on voluntary childlessness and one-child tendency from couples’ perspective: Compulsory childlessness or child-avoidance? Caspian Journal of Internal Medicine, 14(4), 656–667. https://doi.org/10.22088/cjim.14.4.656
Al Sabbah, S., Tantry, A., & Bayliss-Pratt, L. (2025). Do perceived social support mitigate the influence of infertility stigma on fertility quality of life?. Frontiers in global women's health, 6, 1577951. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1577951
Añis, R., Cruz, D., Pangan, H., Angelo, J., Sancio, G., Viclar, R., Villanueva, P., Gieben, H., & Cruz, M. (2024). Child-free by Choice: Why are Some Filipino Millennials Reluctant to Have Children? Psychology and Education: A Multi-Disciplinary Journal, 2024(2), 200–206. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13363831
Berger, R. (2015). Now I see it, now I don’t: Researcher’s positionality and reflexivity in qualitative research. Qualitative Research, 15(2), 219–234. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794112468475
Blackstone, A., & Stewart, M. D. (2012). Choosing to be childfree: Research on the decision not to parent. Sociology Compass, 6(9), 718–727. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-9020.2012.00496.x
Boss, P. (2002). Ambiguous loss in families of the missing. The Lancet, 360, s39–s40. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(02)11815-0
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Cabonce, A. B. L., Cago, F. J. B., Cudiamat, S. L. E. C., & Paredes, S. J. Z. (2019). Baby, baby, baby, no: A case study on the expression and stigma management of the lived family identity of heterosexual Filipino childfree couples [Unpublished undergraduate thesis]. University of the Philippines Diliman. https://www.academia.edu/45033937/Baby_Baby_Baby_No_A_Case_Study_on_the_Expression_and_Stigma_Management_of_the_Lived_Family_Identity_of_Heterosexual_Filipino_Childfree_Couples
Chao, L., Fan, J., Chung, F., & Lam, H. (2014). The Effect of Response Shift on Quality of Life among Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review. OALib, 01(09), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1101099
Cocchiaro, T., Meneghini, C., A. Dal Lago, Luca Cantarini, Amodei, M., Miriello, D., Crisafulli, M. L., Capone, B., Cannarella, R., Condorelli, R. A., Sandro La Vignera, Calogero, A. E., Lenzi, A., & Rago, R. (2020). Assessment of sexual and emotional distress in infertile couple: validation of a new specific psychometric tool. Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, 43(12), 1729–1737. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-020-01263-z
Daly, K. J. E. (1987). Becoming Adoptive Parents: Shifts in Identity from Biological to Adoptive Parenthood Among Infertile Couples. McMaster University Thesis, xv, 499. https://macsphere.mcmaster.ca/bitstream/11375/15585/1/Daly%20Kerry.pdf
De Los Angeles, N. (1965). Marriage and Fertility Patterns in the Philippines. Philippine Sociological Review, 232-248. https://pssc.org.ph/wp-content/pssc-archives/Philippine%20Sociological%20Review/1965/11_Marriage%20and%20Fertility%20Patterns%20in%20the%20Philippines.pdf
Dhar, R. L. (2013). Lived Experiences of Childless Couples: A Phenomenological Study From the Indian Rural Context. Marriage & Family Review, 49(4), 265–283. https://doi.org/10.1080/01494929.2012.762445
Dyer, S. J., Abrahams, N., Hoffman, M., & van der Spuy, Z. M. (2002). `Men leave me as I cannot have children’: women’s experiences with involuntary childlessness. Human Reproduction, 17(6), 1663–1668. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/17.6.1663
Erikson, E. H. (1963). Childhood and society (Vol. 2, p. 1964). New York: Norton. https://doi.org/10.30965/9783657768387_048
Espinol, M. S. T. (2021). Psychological Distress, Marital Dissatisfaction, and Grief Among Involuntary Childless Couples. 12th International Conference on Humanities, Psychology & Social Sciences, 35-73. https://www.dpublication.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/31-60040.pdf
Greil, A. L., Slauson-Blevins, K., & McQuillan, J. (2010). The experience of infertility: a review of recent literature. Sociology of Health & Illness, 32(1), 140–162. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9566.2009.01213.x
Hansen, T. (2012). Parenthood and happiness: A review of folk theories versus empirical evidence. Social Indicators Research, 108(1), 29–64. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-011-9865-y
Kailaheimo-Lönnqvist, S., Moustgaard, H., Martikainen, P., & Myrskylä, M. (2024). Own depression, partner’s depression, and childlessness: A nationwide register-based study. Social Science & Medicine, 361, 117356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117356
Keizer, R., & Ivanova, K. (2017). What’s a (Childless) Man Without a Woman? The Differential Importance of Couple Dynamics for the Wellbeing of Childless Men and Women in the Netherlands. Demographic Research Monographs, 313–330. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44667-7_15
Lagman, R. A., Yoo, G. J., Levine, E. G., & Donnelley, K. A. (2014). "Leaving it to God": Religion and spirituality among Filipina immigrant breast cancer survivors. Journal of Religion and Health, 53(2), 449–465. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-012-9648-z
LaMastro, V. (2001). CHILDLESS BY CHOICE? ATTRIBUTIONS AND ATTITUDES CONCERNING FAMILY SIZE. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 29(3), 231–243. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2001.29.3.231
Li, J. L., Washington-Nortey, M., Kifle, T. H., Cotier, F., & Hoekstra, R. A. (2025). The Role of Extended Family Members in the Lives of Autistic Individuals and Their Parents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis. Clinical child and family psychology review, 28(2), 507–539. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-025-00525-7
Okoro Rellias, B. (2015). Trauma of the Sudden Death of a Child: The Impact on Couple Relationship. Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects, 50. https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/50
Mascarenhas, M. N., Flaxman, S. R., Boerma, T., Vanderpoel, S., & Stevens, G. A. (2012). National, regional, and global trends in infertility prevalence since 1990: A systematic analysis of 277 health surveys. PLoS Medicine, 9(12), e1001356. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001356
McQuillan, J., Greil, A. L., Shreffler, K. M., & Bedrous, A. V. (2025). The Importance of Motherhood and Fertility Intentions among U.S. Women. University of Nebraska - Lincoln Sociology Department, Faculty Publications, 245. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/sociologyfacpub/245
Meisenbach, R. J. (2010). Stigma management communication: A theory and typology of the management of stigmatized identities. Journal of Communication, 60(3), 268–292. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2010.01486.x
Menguito, M. L. M., & Teng-Calleja, M. (2010). Bahala Na as an Expression of the Filipino's Courage, Hope, Optimism, Self-Efficacy, and Search for the Sacred. Philippine Journal for Psychology, 43(1), 1-26. https://archium.ateneo.edu/gsb-pubs/34/
Mohaddesi, H., Khalkhali, H. R., Behrozi-lak, T., Rasouli, J., Edalat Nemoon, R. and Ghasemzadeh, S. (2022). Correlation Between Marital Satisfaction and Mental Health in Infertile Couples referred to Kosar Infertility Clinic in Urmia: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Cancer Research, 7(4), 341-347. https://doi.org/10.30699/jogcr.7.4.341
Mohammadi, M., Samani, R. O., Navid, B., Maroufizadeh, S., & Sabeti, S. (2018). Coping strategy in infertile couples undergoing assisted reproduction treatment. Middle East Fertility Society Journal, 23(4), 482–485. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mefs.2018.07.004
Ngai, F. W., & Loke, A. Y. (2022). Relationships between infertility-related stress, family sense of coherence and quality of life of couples with infertility. Human fertility (Cambridge, England), 25(3), 540–547. https://doi.org/10.1080/14647273.2021.1871781
Nwaomah, E. N. & Dube, S. (2018). Involuntary childlessness and its socio-cultural impact on married couples: Implications for pastoral counseling. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 3(10), 410-414. https://ijisrt.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/IJISRT18OC31.pdf
Ortega-Gómez, E., Vicente-Galindo, P., Martín-Rodero, H., & Galindo-Villardón, P. (2022). Detection of response shift in health-related quality of life studies: a systematic review. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-022-01926-w
Romeiro, J., Caldeira, S., Brady, V., Timmins, F., & Hall, J. (2017). Spiritual aspects of living with infertility: A synthesis of qualitative studies. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 26(23-24), 3917–3935. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13813
Rybińska, A., & Morgan, S. P. (2019). Childless Expectations and Childlessness Over the Life Course. Social forces; a scientific medium of social study and interpretation, 97(4), 1571–1602. https://doi.org/10.1093/sf/soy098
Tabong, P. T. N., & Adongo, P. B. (2013). Understanding the social meaning of infertility and childbearing: A qualitative study of the perception of childbearing and childlessness in Northern Ghana. PLoS ONE, 8(1), e54429. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0054429
Tracz, D. M. M. (2022). The Untended Garden: How Adoptees Navigate Relationships with First Family Members. Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive), 2462. https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/2462
Tudy, R. A., & Tudy, I. G. (2020). Struggles, Coping Mechanisms, and Insights of Childless Teachers in the Philippines: A Descriptive Phenomenological Approach. The Qualitative Report, 25(5), 1256-1278. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2020.3372
Twenge, J. M., Campbell, W. K., & Foster, C. A. (2003). Parenthood and marital satisfaction: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Marriage and Family, 65(3), 574–583. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2003.00574.x
Van Balen, F., & Bos, H. M. (2009). The social and cultural consequences of being childless in poor-resource areas. Facts, views & vision in ObGyn, 1(2), 106–121. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4251270/
Vanier, A., Oort, F. J., McClimans, L., Ow, N., Gulek, B. G., Böhnke, J. R., Sprangers, M., Sébille, V., Mayo, N., & Response Shift - in Sync Working Group (2021). Response shift in patient-reported outcomes: definition, theory, and a revised model. Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation, 30(12), 3309–3322. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-021-02846-w
Vashkar, S. M. K., Ehsan, N., & Haseen, F. (2017). Psychosocial Effects of Infertility among the Childless couples at a Specialized Fertility Centre in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 31(1), 28–33. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjog.v31i1.34273
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Maricar A. Herida, Riza Mae A. Hecera, Mary Grace B. Delosa, Rodel M. Socorro, Desiree Faye S. Jimenez, Maryjane B. Omandam (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
