Family Forerunners? An Overview of Family Demographic Change in Sweden

Ohlsson-Wijk, Sofi; Turunen, Jani; Andersson, Gunnar

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-35079-6_5

Cited by 24 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…This may be due in part to the extremely low levels of education in these countries, suggesting that at an individual level education may only function as a valid indicator of the expected association between socio-economic status and residential independence once a certain threshold of aggregate educational attainment (i.e., development) is reached. In many of the most developed countries around the world, there is some indication of an incipient change in the relationship between education and living alone or, for that matter, between education and family formation, fertility, or divorce involving a shift towards a positive educational gradient for union formation, stability, and fertility (Esping-Andersen & Billari, 2015;McDonald, 2000;Ohlsson-Wijk et al, 2017). Whether or not, these changes will completely alter the way the traditional role of education is understood must remain, for the present, a matter of speculation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Highly educated older women may be more likely to live alone due to greater material resources, to higher divorce or lower marriage rates, to lower fertility, or to preference. Despite this, in some countries like Sweden with high levels of gender equality, highly educated women born since the 1960s are now more prone to form unions, have higher fertility, and higher union stability than the lowest educated (Ohlsson-Wijk, Turunen, & Andersson, 2017). This trend could lead to a shift in the traditional socio-economic gradient of living alone in the future in these types of society.…”

Section: A Straightforward Explanatory Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Women living alone in later life: A multicountry comparative analysis

Requena

Reher

Padyab

et al. 2019

Population Space and Place

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This paper compares the determinants of living alone among elderly women in six countries (Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia, Brazil, Spain, and Sweden) with very different family systems, policy contexts, levels of development, and socio‐economic characteristics. Different factors behind the residential choices of elderly women are estimated by means of logistic regression. Decomposition models are used to assess the extent to which observed differences between countries correspond to specific population compositions or to other factors. Although the importance of all independent variables for living alone is shown to be strong and statistically significant, persistent intercountry disparities in behaviour linked to levels of familism and development remain. Population composition explains only a small part of the observed differences in living alone. Economic development provides an important underlying explanation for the incidence of living alone among women, but many specific differences can also be explained by societal characteristics such as family systems and available policy options.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: A Straightforward Explanatory Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Women living alone in later life: A multicountry comparative analysis

Requena

Reher

Padyab

et al. 2019

Population Space and Place

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Scandinavian countries are considered “family forerunners,” with respect to the transition from traditional families to post-modern ones (Lesthaeghe, 2010; Ohlsson-Wijk et al, 2017). The World Values Survey (2015) indicates that Sweden is ranked the highest on secular and rational values and self-expression values among roughly 50 countries around the world.…”

Section: Stepfamily Laws and Policies In Western Countriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many East Asian countries are experiencing “compressed or semi-compressed modernity” brought about by rapid industrialization and unprecedented economic growth (Ochiai, 2014). Many are undergoing or have undergone the Second Demographic Transition, which involves a move away from tradition and authority toward individual and secular views with a focus on expressive values, self-actualization, and greater social, economic, and gender equality (Lesthaeghe, 2010; Ohlsson-Wijk et al, 2017).…”

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confidence: 99%

Stepfamily Policies and Laws in the United States: Lessons from the West

Stewart

Timothy

2020

Journal of Family Issues

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Although stepfamilies exist in some form in nearly every country in the world, they are most common in Western countries. This paper provides a summary of laws, policies, and programs pertaining to stepfamilies in a selection of Western countries, with a special focus on the United States. Although stepfamilies have been prevalent throughout the West for decades, they remain “incompletely institutionalized,” and governments have been slow to address their needs and concerns. There is large variation across Western countries with respect to how stepfamilies are treated under the law, with some countries employing more liberal definitions of “parents,” “children,” and “families,” than others. In contrast, stepfamilies in the United States must contend with a complex and conflicting set of federal laws, state laws, and court precedents. Their legal status is uncertain and the way stepfamilies are treated is inconsistent across social programs and policies. Overall, there is clear bias against stepfamilies within most U.S. institutions. The review includes recommendations for change that would enhance stepfamily stability and quality of life in both Western and non-Western contexts.

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“…Few studies have investigated the possible mediation of childhood circumstances on the long‐term influence of separation on intergenerational relationships (Kalmijn, 2015b). With family complexity increasing due to separation (i.e., repartnering and stepfamilies; Gähler & Palmtag, 2015; Ohlsson‐Wijk et al, 2017), it is important to describe how these changes can influence intergenerational contact, here defined as the contact between children and their parents. The term separation is hereafter used to refer both to divorce among spouses and separation among cohabiting partners.…”

Section: What Matters? Previous Research On Childhood Circumstancesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does It Matter Anymore? A Study of Childhood Characteristics and Separated Families' Contacts in Adulthood

Palmtag

2020

Family Relations

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Objective The study aimed to explore which factors influence intergenerational contacts between adult children and their separated parents, focusing on childhood characteristics. Background Children from separated families have less frequent contact with their parents compared with peers from intact families. Yet few studies have examined the heterogeneity in intergenerational contact within separated families. Methods Data were based on Swedish Level of Living Survey. Using linear probability model, the first analysis showed that intergenerational contacts vary depending on family type (n = 2,500). The study then explored variations in contacts within separated families (n = 472). Results The findings show that previous frequent contacts with the nonresident parent were positively correlated with current father–child contacts. Conclusion Separation has long‐term consequences on intergenerational contacts, and these are partly predicted by childhood characteristics. Implications The findings suggest, for example, that alternate living (i.e., children living spending equal time with their parents after separation) may contribute to a more equal distribution of the contact between children and their separated parents even in adulthood and help narrow the gender gap in intergenerational contacts within separated families.

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Family Forerunners? An Overview of Family Demographic Change in Sweden

Cited by 24 publications

References 53 publications

Women living alone in later life: A multicountry comparative analysis

Women living alone in later life: A multicountry comparative analysis

Stepfamily Policies and Laws in the United States: Lessons from the West

Does It Matter Anymore? A Study of Childhood Characteristics and Separated Families' Contacts in Adulthood

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