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Entry Into Parenthood and the Outcome of Cohabiting Partnerships in Britain
Author(s) -
Berrington Ann
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of marriage and family
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.578
H-Index - 159
eISSN - 1741-3737
pISSN - 0022-2445
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2001.00080.x
Subject(s) - cohabitation , socioeconomic status , general partnership , fertility , demography , national survey of family growth , cohort , social class , demographic economics , marital status , psychology , sociology , political science , medicine , economics , population , research methodology , family planning , law
Data from a national cohort study of men and women born in Britain in 1958 are used to examine factors influencing the outcome of cohabiting first partnerships. Conception is found to be a key factor promoting marriage for both men and women. Observed gender differences in the estimated impact of children on partnership stability are likely due to the incomplete reporting of past fertility among men. Social class and educational differentials in the likelihood of female cohabitors experiencing a conception, and their likelihood of subsequent marriage, suggest that the role of cohabitation varies according to socioeconomic background.