Marital stability throughout the child-rearing years

Abstract

Although there is evidence that the number and ages of children influence marital stability, studies have not systematically tracked the risk of marital disruption throughout the child-rearing years. This study uses marital and fertility histories from the June 1985 Current Population Survey to examine this issue. Continuous-time regression models with ages and numbers of children as time-varying covariates are estimated. Net of controls for age at marriage, year of marriage, education, and marital duration, stability increases with family size up to the third child but starts to decline as family size reaches five or more children. Aging of children is disruptive until the youngest child reaches adulthood, after which marriages become much more stable. Arrival and aging of children is an important dynamic with strong implications for marital stability.

Fertility and union dissolution in Brazil: an example of multi-process modelling using the Demographic and Health Survey calendar data

“…Once this is controlled for, the effect of age changes so that higher risks of dissolution are found among very young women and older women, with the lowest risks at ages about 25 years. As expected, women who are in their second or higher order union have a higher probability of splitting up with their partners (Heaton, 1990). This behavioural effect is emphasised when controlling for unobserved heterogeneity.…”

“…The increased stability of unions following the arrival of children is evidence that children do add something positive to the union and/or that children increase the costs of dissolution. Previous studies in developed countries have found that it is more likely for couples without children to divorce (Heaton, 1990;Lillard, 1993). The findings of these studies could not be generalised to Latin American countries.…”

“…The variables that have been included in the models are socio-economic and demographic variables that have been found important in previous analyses of fertility and union dynamics in Brazil and elsewhere (Chen et al, 1974;Ebanks et al, 1974;Greene, 1994;Heaton, 1990;Henriques, 1989;Koo et al, 1984;Lazo, 1994;Onaka and Yaukey, 1973;Ribeiro, 1993;Weinstein et al, 1990). The demographic variables included are: age (time varying); parity (time varying); age at first birth; whether the first birth was out of wedlock and, if so, whether it was legitimised by a union within six months after the conception; age at first marriage; union order (time varying whether it is the first or higher order union); and number of unions (coded as 'zero', 'one' and 'more than one').…”

Marital satisfaction and the impact of children in collectivist cultures: A meta-analysis

“…Those that maintain an evolutionary perspective may find it surprising that children affect marital satisfaction nega-tively; it is odd that while one achieves reproductive success, the satisfaction with the relationship that made reproduction a reality-declines. Undoubtedly, rearing children gives rise to marital conflict (HEATON 1990). Nonetheless, it has been argued that a couple that has successfully reproduced together ought to have heightened satisfaction (BERECZKEI and CSANAKY 1996).…”

“…Once children are introduced, household division of labor and financial strain are commonly sources of disagreement (HEATON 1990). Couples may disagree in the amount and type of care perceived to be needed (MCBRIDE and MILLS 1993) and differential parental participation in childcare can contribute to marital strife (FELDMAN 2000).…”