Childbearing among Canadian stepfamilies

Valerie Heintz-Martin,Dana Hamplová,Céline Le Bourdais

doi:10.25336/p6d89w

Abstract

This article analyses childbearing in stepfamilies in Canada, using the 2001 General Social Survey on family. It estimates the probability that stepfamily couples will give birth to a child according to the composition of the stepfamily, and then moves on to explore the factors that are associated with such an event. Particular attention is given to the type of union, parental status, and number of children of both partners. Contrary to past studies, this research is based not only on women’s retrospective conjugal and parental histories but also on those reported by male respondents, and it controls for women’s work status.

Highlights

In Canada, as in most western countries, family life has become increasingly unstable as couples tend to separate at a fast pace, even in the presence of young children (Bohnert 2011)
The analysis revealed that approximately half of the stepfamily couples have given birth to a child within ten years of the beginning of their union
It showed that the probability of childbearing is linked to the age of the woman, the type of union, as well as the employment status of women, the birth of a child being more likely to occur among younger women, married couples and women who were outside the labour market

Summary

Introduction

In Canada, as in most western countries, family life has become increasingly unstable as couples tend to separate at a fast pace, even in the presence of young children (Bohnert 2011). Reflecting this trend, numerous European and US studies have examined fertility behaviours following marital dissolution (Jefferies et al 2000; Beaujouan and Solaz 2008; Brown 2000) and, childbearing in stepfamilies (Vikat et al 1999; Henz 2002; Prskawetz et al 2002; Thomson and Li 2002; Vikat et al 2004; Thomson 2004; Li 2006) This body of research mainly focused on whether childbearing in second unions or in stepfamilies is motivated by the same factors as fertility in general, and especially on whether the presence of children from a previous relationship influences the couple’s risk of having a child together

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion