A matter of norms: Family background, religion, and generational change in the diffusion of first union breakdown among French-speaking Quebeckers

Benoît Laplante

doi:10.4054/DemRes.2016.35.27

Volume 35 - Article 27 | Pages 783–812

A matter of norms: Family background, religion, and generational change in the diffusion of first union breakdown among French-speaking Quebeckers

By Benoît Laplante

Date received:

25 Nov 2015

Date published:

21 Sep 2016

Word count:

6840

Keywords:

divorce, family background, intergenerational transmission of divorce, marriage, separation, unmarried cohabitation

DOI:

10.4054/DemRes.2016.35.27

This article is part of the Special Collection 21 „Separation, Divorce, Repartnering, and Remarriage around the World“

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Abstract

Background: Previous research conducted in societies where unmarried cohabitation remains limited suggests that having grown up with unmarried parents fosters marital instability. There is little research on this relationship in societies where unmarried cohabitation has become common.

Objective: We take advantage of the concurrent diffusion of unmarried cohabitation and union breakdown among French-speaking Quebeckers to examine whether family background (having grown up with unmarried parents and parental separation) and religion (reporting a denomination and religious attendance) have been key factors (intermediate variables) in the diffusion of conjugal instability or have been different consequences of a process of normative change unfolding across cohorts.

Methods: We use a subsample of 2,265 first unions from the 2011 Canadian General Social Survey. We estimate the hazard function and the effects of the independent variables on the hazard of breakdown using Royston‒Parmar flexible hazards models.

Results: Results show that having grown up with unmarried parents has no effect on the hazard of breakdown despite the increasing proportion of respondents having lived in this form of family, whereas religious attendance does have an effect despite its decreasing importance. Parental separation increases the hazard of marital disruption for men but not for women.

Contribution: Among French-speaking Quebeckers, the diffusion of unmarried cohabitation and of union breakdown seem to be two aspects of a profound shift in norms regarding family life rather than being related to each other in a direct causal way.