You might think that you don't care about what others think, but it's not always the case for everyone.
Feeling like you need to keep up with others, like your neighbors or friends, can sometimes make you do things you might not want to do, such as buying an expensive car or making home improvements you don't really need.
Let's find out more about the study that explores this theme.
A study on missing out
A study from Rutgers University found that this feeling, often called "FOMO" or fear of missing out, might even push some people to become parents.
One of the main reasons people who later regret having kids became parents, in the first place, might be because they didn't want to miss out on what others were doing.
The study's researchers wanted to understand why these regretful parents decided to have children in the first place.
To find out, they looked at stories from an online group called /r/childfree on Reddit, where people discuss not having children.
They found that some parents who regretted having kids did it because they felt pressure to fit in or not miss out on what others were doing.
Why it's important
This finding is important because it shows that people's decisions about having children can be influenced by what others are doing or what's considered normal.
The researchers say that understanding these influences can help people make better decisions about having kids that are right for them.
They also suggest that discussions about potential regret should be part of reproductive counseling, especially since some places are making it harder to access abortion.
