SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – Yes, it’s true.
Scientists confirm that pregnancy is actually contagious, and they say they have the research to prove it.
The study, published by The American Sociological Association journal, lasted over a 10-year span (from 1990s to the 2000s).
Researchers analyzed the data of 1,720 women and discovered that more than half of women had a child by the end of the experiment.
The women who were interviewed mentioned things such as “friendship ties,” citing it as a probable reason for a strong “contagion” in pregnancies, meaning humans tend to act according to their environment and interpersonal interactions, which in turn influences the decisions they make.
Researchers said other possible factors prompting a woman to change the direction of her fertility intentions include:
- If you see a friend who can manage her child, it gives you confidence about your child caring capabilities
- Seeing your friends stepping into motherhood gives you a feeling of having been “left behind,” so you may start trying to keep yourself “up-to-date” by becoming a mom, too
Additionally, the study found that “friendship ties” can also influence the number of children a woman has, all for the same reason — if you see a friend who can manage several children, you can do it too!