Volume 45 - Article 15 | Pages 469–516 
Parental socioeconomic status and the timing of first marriage: What is the role of unmarried cohabitation? Results from a cross-national comparison
Date received: | 14 Nov 2018 |
Date published: | 03 Aug 2021 |
Word count: | 7987 |
Keywords: | cross-national comparison, first marriages, parental status, socioeconomic status, unmarried cohabitation |
DOI: | 10.4054/DemRes.2021.45.15 |
Additional files: | readme.45-15 (text file, 4 kB) |
demographic-research.45-15 (zip file, 47 kB) | |
Abstract
Background: Previous research has shown that individuals from high-status families enter marriage later than those from low-status families. However, in many Western societies, it has become common to cohabit prior to marriage. Does this change the link between parental socioeconomic status (SES) and marriage timing?
Objective: This study examines to what extent the impact of parental SES on the timing of first marriage weakens after young adults start a cohabiting union. It also examines cross-national variation in the link between parental SES and marriage timing before and after young adults cohabit and whether this variation depends on countries’ position in the cohabitation transition.
Methods: We apply discrete-time hazard models and meta-analytical tools using data from 20 Western countries. To examine whether the cohabitation stage of countries explains country differences, we construct a four-stage cohabitation typology.
Results: In most countries, higher parental SES results in later entry into marriage. The impact of parental SES on marriage timing weakens considerably after young adults entered a cohabiting union. Substantial cross-national variation is found in the strength of the link between parental SES and marriage timing. However, this variation cannot be explained by the cohabitation stage countries are in.
Contribution: First, this study provides fresh evidence of the influence of parental SES on family formation in Western countries. Second, it shows the importance of a life-course perspective, as parental SES matters less after young adults start a cohabiting union. Third, it presents a theory-based and empirically-tested typology of stages in the cohabitation transition.
Author's Affiliation
Anne Brons - Universiteit Utrecht, the Netherlands
Aart C. Liefbroer - Nederlands Interdisciplinair Demografisch Instituut (NIDI), the Netherlands
Harry B.G. Ganzeboom - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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