Study title

Experiences of Childlessness Due to Life Circumstances 2025-2026

Dataset ID Number

FSD4059

Persistent identifiers

https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD4059
https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd4059

Data Type

Qualitative

Authors

• Nevalainen, Emilia (Tampere University)

Abstract

The data consists of writings in which the respondents describe their experiences related to childlessness due to life circumstances. The data was originally collected for a master's thesis. Using the writings collected through a call for submissions, the thesis sought to examine the effects of childlessness on the daily lives, emotions, close relationships, sense of agency, and vision of the future of those facing it.

The invitation to write included several guiding questions to assist with the writing process. These questions provided an opportunity to reflect, for example, on what it is like to live without children in Finnish society, whether the respondent is able to express their childless status in their close relationships and how this affects those relationships, how they would describe the factors underlying their childless status, and what kinds of things help them cope with the experiences of being childless. The respondents were also asked to include concrete examples of the situations described in their writings.

As background information, participants were asked about their gender identity and age group.

Keywords

childbirth; children; families; family planning; fertility (human); life events; reproduction (biolgical); sexual partnership

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Family life and marriage (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Children (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Individual datasets

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (B) available for research, teaching and study.

Data Collector

• Nevalainen, Emilia (Tampere University)

Collection Dates

2025-11-25 – 2026-02-01

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

People who have experiences of childlessness due to their life circumstances.

Time Method

Cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Non-probability: Availability

The author of the data distributed the writing invitation primarily through the channels of Simpukka ry (Instagram, website, Facebook) and Sateenkaariperheet ry (Instagram, newsletter) on several occasions. The invitation was also displayed as a physical poster on the Tampere University central campus, in the Tampere University Gender Studies Facebook group, the author's own LinkedIn and Instagram accounts, the Ostrobothnia Welfare Region's Instagram account, and three discussion channels on the Suomi24 service (family/childlessness, family/having a child/baby fever, and relationships/singles). In addition, the author shared the invitation in the Telegram group of Interaktio, the student association for the social sciences at the Tampere University, as well as in the Facebook group Naistenhuone.

Collection Mode

Self-administered writings and/or diaries: Web-based (Penna textual data collection tool)

Research Instrument

Data collection guidelines: Self-administered writings guide

Data Files

21 writings in txt format. Additionally, the data were organised into an easy to use HTML version and a CSV version.

Data File Language

The data files of this dataset are available in the following languages: Finnish.

Qualitative data are available in their original language only and are not translated.

Data Version

1.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

During the archiving process at the FSD, the name of the respondent's employer was removed from one writing. In addition, one writing was removed completely because it included a significant number of third parties' names and details of a private nature.

A total of 24 responses to the writing invitation were received, of which 22 were authorised by the author to be archived.

Citation Requirement

The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.

Bibliographical Citation

Nevalainen, Emilia (Tampere University): Experiences of Childlessness Due to Life Circumstances 2025-2026 [dataset]. Data version 1.0 (2026-04-27). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd4059; URN: https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD4059

Deposit Requirement

Notify FSD of all publications where you have used the data by sending the citation information to user-services.fsd@tuni.fi.

Disclaimer

The original data creators and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the reuse of the data.

FSD has not been informed of any publications related to the data.