Selfish or selfless?

The most-stinging criticism is that the child-free choice reflects immaturity and selfishness. Some women admit they prefer to "nurture the child within" or dread losing their figures. But the great majority cite life-affirming reasons, often showing greater realism about the sacrifices of good parenting than do those who want kids, Ireland says. In the studies, child-free women's motives were:

* Freedom. They wanted to pursue other dreams and possibilities, and feared children would suffer from their lifestyle.

* Preserving the quality of their marriages. "Some women fear the negative impact child-rearing can have on relationships," says Ireland. In the studies, couples with children reported the highest rates of unhappiness and marital dissatisfaction; child-free couples reported the highest rates of health, happiness and satisfaction.