A fascinating article from the journal Demography –
Parental Well-being
Surrounding First Birth as a Determinant of Further Parity Progression by Rachel
Margolis and Mikko Myrskylä
Abstract
A major component driving
cross-country fertility differences in the developed world is differences in
the probability of having additional children among those who have one. Why do
people stop at having only one child? We hypothesize that the experience of the
transition to parenthood is an important determinant of further fertility.
Analyzing longitudinal data from Germany, we find that the experience during
the transition to parenthood, as measured by changes in subjective well-being,
predicts further parity progression. A drop in well-being surrounding first
birth predicts a decreased likelihood of having another child. The association
is particularly strong for older parents and those with higher education: these
characteristics may be related to the ability or willingness to revise
fertility plans based on prior experiences. Parents’ experience with the first
birth is an important and understudied factor in determining completed family
size, and policy-makers concerned about low fertility should pay attention to
factors that influence the well-being of new parents.
Non-Technical Summary from the
Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/08/11/the-most-depressing-statistic-imaginable-about-being-a-new-parent/