Delayed Childbearing and Childlessness in Britain: the 1958 and 1970 Cohorts Compared Roona Simpson Centre for Research on Families and Relationships University of Edinburgh UPTAP Presentation, March 2006

Aims and Objectives Postdoctoral Fellowships Build capacity in secondary analysis, promote use of large-scale data sets. Publications/Dissemination to both academic/non-academic audiences. Development of future proposals.

Context Postponement in timing of first births and increased lifetime childlessness – related aspects of recent demographic change. Population ageing and population decline: various implications, ranging from social security provision to issues of intergenerational support and the redefinition of familial obligations.

Data Sources Cohort Studies: NCDS/BCS70 Longitudinal studies, cohorts born in one week in March 1958/1970. To date six/five sweeps of interviews monitoring physical, educational, social and economic development. NCDS: most recent due end of June 2006 BCS70: most recent due end of April 2006

Aims of Data Analysis To examine factors associated with changing patterns in timing and propensity to childbirth among women in Britain: Explore the socio-economic characteristics of women who remain childless in their early thirties. Consider similarities/differences over time. Investigate the factors that influence the likelihood of experiencing lifetime childlessness.

Research Design Looking at women who remain childless in early 30s, comparing those born in 1958 with those born in 1970 Following those from NCDS subset over time, and comparing those with/without children at 46 (end of reproductive life). Methods: Construct models to investigate the factors that influence cohort members postponement of fertility or lifetime childlessness. Conduct regression analyses, including multiple linear and logistic regression, to examine the relationship between socio-economic factors and lifetime fertility.

Research Training Advanced Statistical Courses, Edinburgh University Analysis of Panel Data, SSSRI, Southampton Demographic Concepts and Methods, CCSR, Manchester The NCDS and BCS: Data Confrontation Workshop, Essex Summer School

Dissemination British Sociological Association Conference Social Policy Association Conference British Society of Population Studies Conference RGS-IBG Conference CRFR Research Briefing SRA Scotland Seminar Series