TY  - UNPB
TI  - Pathways to parenthood : exploring context as a predictor of time to first parenthood
UR  - http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.506785
AV  - restricted
EP  - 321
N1  - Unpublished
ID  - discovery10007409
M1  - Doctoral
PB  - Institute of Education, University of London
A1  - Kneale, Dylan
Y1  - 2009///
N2  - Abstract
Striking patterns of late fertility are now firmly entrenched within British
demography. This rise in age at first birth has not been observed uniformly across
fertility schedules, but represents an exit from parenthood during the mid to late
twenties. Substantial numbers of men and women continue to become parents at an
early age while growing numbers postpone parenthood. Socioeconomic differentials
predict age at first parenthood, with those with advantaged characteristics being
associated with postponement. However, this pattern is by no means clear, and
current models reveal that a substantial portion of the variance in timing remains
unexplained.
The overarching hypothesis tested in this thesis using data from two nationally
representative birth cohort studies is that the timing of parenthood is a joint product of socioeconomic factors and contextual factors: Contextual factors govern the
transition to parenthood through influencing the perception of socioeconomic factors
in addition to sanctioning normative fertility behaviour. This theory is tested using
fertility histories from both men and women, and modelling contextual childhood
predictors of the timing of parenthood using binary logistic and event history
regression models. Through examining the characteristics of early parents and those
who postpone parenthood, this thesis finds that values about fertility and the
lifecourse predict parenthood at both ends of the fertility spectrum, independent of
socioeconomic factors. Philoprogenetive tendencies predict both early parenthood
and moderate projections of future childlessness, while dislike of school, low parental educational expectations and region of residence predict early parenthood. The definition of 'early' parenthood is also explored thoroughly and is contrasted as being both a political and social construct. The conclusion of this exploration is the
derivation of relative and absolute binary definitions of 'early' that are used throughout the thesis resulting in novel distinctions being found between patterns of early motherhood and early fatherhood.
ER  -