Reexamining the link of early childbearing to marriage and to subsequent fertility.
Using data from the 1980, 1985, and 1990 Current Population Surveys, we show that the link between early fertility and nonmarital births has become stronger. Women who give birth earlier are increasingly likely to be unmarried. In contrast, we find a weaker association between first births at young (versus older) ages and (1) a rapid pace of subsequent childbearing and (2) higher completed fertility. We discuss possible causes and consequences of these changes.
Duke University, Department of Sociology, Durham, NC 27708-0088, USA. pmorgan@soc.duke.edu
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008393:Marriage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D008423:Maternal Age; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010298:Parity; D015406:Single Parent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data