The impact of marriage on fertility intentions and related values

Entry into and occupancy of major adult roles are of longstanding theoretical interest, but few studies have designs adequate to examine the consequences of associated changes in orientation. This study is based on a longitudinal project in which changes in fertility intentions and the importance of...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inInternational journal of sociology of the family Vol. 25; no. 1; p. 91
Main Authors Reed, F W, Mcbroom, W H
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published India 01.04.1995
Subjects
Americas
Behavior
Data Collection
Decision Making
Demography
Developed Countries
Fertility
Longitudinal Studies
Marital Status
Marriage
North America
Population
Population Dynamics
Psychology
Sampling Studies
Social Values
Statistics as Topic
United States
Americas
United States
North America
Decision Making
Americas
United States
Value Orientation
Statistical Studies
Fertility Preferences > determinants
Psychological Factors
Correlation Studies
Marital Status
Research Methodology
North America
Sampling Studies
Studies
Surveys
Nuptiality
Northern America
Developed Countries
Fertility
Population
Behavior
Demographic Factors
Longitudinal Studies
Population Dynamics
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:Entry into and occupancy of major adult roles are of longstanding theoretical interest, but few studies have designs adequate to examine the consequences of associated changes in orientation. This study is based on a longitudinal project in which changes in fertility intentions and the importance of marriage and the family are examined among four subgroups--females who remained single, females who married, males who remained single, and males who married over a five-year period. Females, regardless of marital status, became less inclined to have children, males remaining single became more inclined and males who married over the interval changed little. When a control for value of marriage and the family was introduced, gender-based differences in fertility desires disappeared. There were substantial changes in the value domain according to sex and marital status--those who married over the five-year period displayed significant increases in the importance of the value of marriage and family. The implications of these findings are discussed.
ISSN:0020-7667