Kin influence on female reproductive behavior: The evidence from reconstitution of the Bejsce parish registers, 18th to 20th centuries, Poland

Abstract

The phenomenon of kin-oriented help, according to inclusive fitness theory, should be of crucial importance with respect to the process of reproduction. This is due to the fact that the devoted time and resources might indirectly contribute to the reproductive performance of a donor. This study aimed at analyzing the kin effects on fertility in order to check whether help received from kinsmen enhance a recipient's reproduction in terms of parity transition risk, completed fertility, and the number of survivors. The data came from reconstitution of church registers from Bejsce parish, Poland. To estimate the kin effect, regression models for count outcomes and techniques of multilevel event history analysis were applied. The analyses have shown that completed fertility and parity-specific transition risks are strongly influenced by various kin groups. Moreover, a multilevel hazard model revealed differences in the patterns of the kin influence among controlled fertility than among natural fertility birth cohorts. Female reproductive outcome is influenced mainly by the presence of siblings and postreproductive helpers (grandparents). However, there is a negative impact of so-called helpers-at-the-nest (older children in the household) on parity transition risks.

Does grandparental help mediate the relationship between kin presence and fertility?

“…This would explain why parents' help has less of a direct effect on progression to a birth than parents-in-law. In contrast, parents-in-law, particularly mothers-in-law, are consistently found to be associated with increased fertility rates (Sear, Mace, and McGregor 2003;Snopkowski and Sear 2013;Tymicki 2004). Some have argued that this may be a manipulative strategy by in-laws to increase an unrelated daughter-in-law's fertility (Leonetti et al 2007), while others suggest that it may be adaptive for women to increase their fertility in contexts where they have few kin around to help (such as patrilocal contexts, where most household members will not be related kin) (Johnstone and Cant 2010;Moya, Snopkowski, and Sear 2016).…”

“…First, kin presence is measured in many different ways in previous research, depending on data availability. The survival status of family members is sometimes used as a proxy for kin availability (i.e., simply whether the relative is alive or dead, based on the assumption that living kin will be more able to influence fertility than those who are dead) (see examples: Beise and Voland 2002;Tymicki 2004;Beise 2005;Kemkes-Grottenthalef 2005;Sear, Mace, and McGregor 2003;Hadley 2004;Hill and Hurtado 1996). Survival status may overestimate any effects of kin if kin survival is confounded by other variables (such as wealth or genes for disease resistance, which may be associated with survival and fertility outcomes).…”

The Interplay of Family Systems, Social Networks and Fertility in Europe Cohorts Born Between 1920 and 1960

“…However, most services and types of help can only be provided to family members co-residing in the household or living nearby (Litwak & Kulis 1987, 650;Höllinger & Haller 1990, 117). For example, a co-resident grandmother can take care of the grandchildren, prepare food, and help with housework (Reher 1998, 219-17;Sear et al 2003;Tymicki 2004Tymicki , 2008. Thereby, co-resident grandmothers can reduce the burden of combining work with family.…”

Family systems and fertility : fertility behaviour in Europe from a network perspective

“…Most services and types of help, however, can only be provided to family members co-residing in the household or living nearby (Litwak and Kulis 1987: 650;Höllinger and Haller 1990: 117). A co-resident grandmother, for example, can take care of the grandchildren, prepare food, help with housework, and so on (Reher 1998: 219-17;Sear, Mace and McGregor 2003;Tymicki 2004Tymicki , 2008. Thereby, they can reduce the burden combining work with family.…”

“…By influencing the formation of kin ties, family systems regulate the social control of the reproductive behaviour (Figure 1.3). This influence can be assumed to work through processes of social learning, social support 21 and social pressure (for an overview on how family ties influence fertility via these mechanisms see Bernardi and Klärner 2014: 649-652 21 In family systems which support extended family structures, for example a co-resident grandmother can support their offspring by taking care of the grandchildren and helping with housework (Reher 1998: 219-217;Sear, Mace and McGregor 2003;Tymicki 2004Tymicki , 2008. example, 'strong' family systems, close kin ties can be assumed to support fertility through the provision of social support which can be expected to lower the opportunity costs of having children (Schoen et al 1997: 337, 346-349;Harknett, Billari and Medalia 2014: 5-6;Lorimer 1954: 199-201).…”