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Delayed Child Bearing and Childlessness in Britain: the 1958 and 1970 Cohorts Compared [project complete]

Researchers

Roona Simpson

Roona Simpson
University of Edinburgh

Email:roona.simpson@ed.ac.uk

web:http://www.crfr.ac.uk

Abstract:

Related aspects of recent fertility change include the postponement of first births and an increase in childlessness, both of which are related to the ageing and declining of a population. In Britain, there is evidence of an increasing polarisation in age of first childbirth, and one of the highest levels of childlessness in Europe. Several scholars have pointed to the diversity in patterns of fertility change across and between developed countries to argue for the importance of situational factors, cultural conventions, local and global economic conditions and state policies in shaping changes in reproductive careers, and thus the need for more specific, contextual research.

This project will explore changes over time in relation to timing of childbearing in Britain in recent decades. It uses the 1958 National Child Development Study (NCDS) and the 1970 Birth Cohort Study (BCS 70) to look at differences across and between cohorts, in relation to social class background, educational achievement, and employment and partnership status.  Providing such information on the characteristics associated with particular fertility histories, as well as changes over time, contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the social processes underlying changing fertility patterns.

Department:

Centre for Reserach on Families and Relationships, University of Edinburgh

Duration:

1 November 2005 – 31 October 2006

Grant Type:

Post Doctoral Fellowship

Publications

Jamieson, L., Backett-Milburn, K., Simpson, R. and Wasoff, F. (in submission) Men’s orientations to partnering, having children and parenting, The Sociological Review, submitted.

Simpson, R. (2009) Delayed childbearing and childlessness in Britain, in Stillwell, J, Kneale, D. and Coast, E. (eds.) Fertility, Living Arrangements, Care and Mobility Understanding Population Trends and Processes Volume 1, Springer, Dordrecht, pp. 23-40.

Simpson, R. (2007) Childbearing on hold: Delayed childbearing and childlessness in Britain, UPTAP Research Findings, March.

Simpson, R. (2006) Delayed childbearing and childlessness in Britain: the 1958 and 1970 cohorts compared, CRFR Research Briefing, University of Edinburgh, available at http://www.crfr.ac.uk/briefingslist.htm#rb29.

Simpson, R. (2006) Childbearing on hold: A literature review, Working Paper 1, Centre for Research on Families and Relationships, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh.

Simpson, R. (2006) Delayed childbearing in Britain: The 1958 And 1970 Cohort Studies compared, Working Paper 2, Centre for Research on Families and Relationships, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh.

Presentations

Jamieson, L., Backett-Milburn, K., Simpson, R. and Wasoff, F. (2008) Men's orientations to partnering, having children and parenting, BSPS Annual Conference, Manchester, 10-11 September.

Simpson, R. (2007) Delayed childbearing and childlessness in Britain, ONS/UPTAP Workshop on UPTAP, University of Southampton,19 December.

Simpson, R. (2007) “Defying nature?” Contemporary discourses around delayed childbearing and childlessness in Britain, GeNet Seminar on Low Fertility in Industrialised Countries, London School of Economics, 31 May.

Simpson, R. (2007) Childbearing on hold: The 1958 and 1970 cohorts compared, (presented by John Stillwell), UPTAP Workshop on Building Capacity through Secondary Data Analysis, Leeds, 21-23 April.

Simpson, R. (2007) Delayed childbearing in Britain, Social Research Association Seminar, Edinburgh, 8 February.

Simpson, R. (2006) Changes over time in later childbearing and childlessness in Britain: the 1958 and 1970 cohorts compared, Departmental Seminar, Centre for Research on Families and Relationships, Edinburgh, 21 November.

Simpson, R. (2006) Changes over time in later childbearing and childlessness in Britain: the 1958 and 1970 cohorts compared, British Society of Population Studies Conference, Southampton, 18-21 September.

Simpson, R. (2006) Delayed childbearing and childlessness in Britain: the 1958 and 1970 cohorts compared, RGS-IBG Annual Conference, 30 August - 1 September.

Simpson, R. (2006) “Defying nature?” Contemporary discourses around delayed childbearing and childlessness in Britain, British Sociological Association Conference, Harrogate, 21-23 April.

Simpson, R. (2006) Delayed childbearing and childlessness in Britain: the 1958 and 1970 cohorts compared, UPTAP Inaugural Conference, University of Leeds, 30 March.