Several social and economic reasons may play a role behind the fact that among applicants for prenatal paternity testing, younger people up to the age of 33 and those with relatively low incomes tend to be more likely to apply. The fact that 30% of applicants are male may also be related to specific circumstances or motivations. Each of these reasons is explained in more detail below.
1. why there are so many young people up to the age of 33
Social context and stage of life may influence why younger people, particularly those under 33 years of age, are more likely to undertake prenatal paternity testing.
a. Being in a transitional phase of life.
This age group is generally in an important transitional period in their lives, including career and family formation. Marriage, childbirth and family life are often not yet stable, and parent-child relationships and trust issues with partners may be undefined.
- Increasing number of unmarried partnerships: an increasing number of couples discover they are pregnant before they are married, and in these cases it is common for a prenatal paternity test to be carried out after conception to seek identification of the father.
b. Relationship instability.
In many cases, young people in their 20s and early 30s, romantic relationships and marriages are not yet stable and may be vulnerable to suspicions of cheating or infidelity in the partnership.Because of the instability of the relationship, the psychology of wanting to confirm the parent-child relationship at an early stage and gain a sense of security is at work.
- In the context of a rocky relationship, such as ashort relationship orsuspicion of infidelity, prenatal appraisals are increasingly requested when there is no certainty as to who the father is.
c. Relieving anxiety at an early stage of family formation.
Younger people may be more anxious about childbirth and parenting, especially in their first pregnancy, and many want psychological reassurance by confirming who the father of the child is. This psychological anxiety relief is another reason for wanting an appraisal.
2. The reasons for the high number of low-income groups
Economic and social factors contribute to why many applicants for prenatal paternity testing have low incomes.
a. Securing child support.
For low-income families, child rearing entails a significant financial burden. For this reason, women, especially those who are unmarried or economically insecure, may undertake a paternity test to identify the father before birth and to secure future childcare costs. This is an important means of early clarifying the father’s legal responsibility for economic reasons and stabilizing the child’s life.
- The tendency to prioritize child support claims and securing financial support is seen in lower-income groups.
b. relationship instability due to economic insecurity
Low-income families are often in an economically precarious situation, and these uncertainties can affect trust between couples and family life. There is a need to clarify the parent-child relationship before birth to sort out future financial responsibilities, especially when the parent-child relationship is uncertain due to the high costs associated with pregnancy and childbirth.
c. Securing legal assistance as soon as possible
For low-income families, legally identifying the father and securing child support and other assistance can be critical to the child’s future. Therefore, establishing the parent-child relationship before birth and seeking support at an early stage may appear as a financial necessity.
3. Why 30% of applicants are male
The fact that approximately 30 % of applicants for prenatal paternity testing are men indicates that there is a strong need on the part of men for confirmation and anxiety about the parent-child relationship. The reasons why men request an assessment are explained below.
a. confirming whether he is the father or not
Men may feel a need to confirm that the child is indeed theirs if their partner becomes pregnant. They have a strong incentive to confirm that they are the father, especially if the relationship is unstable or if they suspect their partner is having an affair.
- It is common for fathers to want to clarify the parent-child relationship before taking on the responsibilities and financial burdens off fatherhood.
b. Avoidance of economic risk
Another important reason for men is that they want to avoid being held responsible for child support payments and other responsibilities despite not being the father. Men who feel financially burdened want to avoid future financial risks by having an early assessment and proving that they are not the father.
c. For psychological security
For men, the clarification of the parent-child relationship can also provide emotional security. Men who are anxious in the early stages of pregnancy may wish to resolve their doubts through a prenatal paternity test and become more prepared for future parenthood.
Conclusion
Prenatal paternity testing is mainly carried out by young people up to the age of 33, and many of them have relatively low incomes, which is due to economic insecurity and relationship instability. The fact that 30% of applicants are male is also due to a strong need on the part of men to check the parent-child relationship at an early stage and sort out responsibilities and risks. For these reasons, prenatal paternity testing is used as a means of resolving financial and psychological concerns.
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Supervisor of the article
Dr. Hiroshi Oka
Graduated from Keio University, Faculty of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Medical Doctor
