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The Life Course Trajectories Of Older Canadians, Zenaida R. Ravanera, Rajulton Fernando, Thomas K. Burch

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Abstract not available

Young Canadians’ Family Formation: Variations In Delayed Start And Complex Pathways, Zenaida Ravanera, Rajulton Fernando, Thomas K. Burch

PSC Discussion Papers Series

This paper focuses on family formation of Canadians born in 1966-85. Studies have shown that in comparison to older cohorts, young Canadians delay their transition to adulthood and they follow more complex pathways in the formation of the family through cohabitation, marriage, and parenthood. However, within cohorts, there are variations in the general trends in timing and trajectories. Using a life course perspective, we explore the influences of social status, cultural orientation, and opportunity structures on family formation. This is done using retrospective data collected through the 2001 General Social Survey on Family History. Techniques of event history analysis, mainly, …

Attitudes Toward Family Size Preferences Among Urban Ethiopians, Daniel Sahleyesus

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Making use of data obtained from a recent fieldwork conducted in five major urban centers of Ethiopia, this study examines attitudes of respondents on family size preferences to understand the fertility transition in urban areas. The methodology includes in-depth qualitative interviews and focus group discussions. Urban residents may not have a significantly different motivation as to why they would like to have children compared to people from rural areas. However, urban residents have a reproductive goal that take into account averting risks in the face of economic difficulties and tailoring preferences to achieve upward social mobility. Respondents give a reported …

Familial Orientations And The Rationales For Childbearing Behaviour, Amir Erfani, Roderic Beaujot

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Using a local qualitative sample from Ontario, we explore the rationales for childbearing behaviour across contrasting familial orientations. There are considerable similarities among respondents with traditional and modern familial orientations in terms of the reasons for having children and the costs and values of children. Nonetheless, persons with modern orientations are more likely to give individual related reasons for having children, and to see the value of children in terms of personal needs and desires. The largest difference relates to the ideal timing of childbearing, as persons with modern orientations are more likely to prefer childbearing in the late 20s …

Familial And Environmental Influences On Longevity In A Pre-Industrial Population, Ryan Mazan, Alain Gagnon

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Data from historical populations provide an adequate context for the examination of the familial and environmental components of longevity. We have investigated the relation between sibling survivorship and longevity through French-Canadian children of a completed fertility cohort born between 1625 and 1704. The Cox regression model was used to analyze the effects of sibling survivorship on the survival time of these early Canadian inhabitants. Other covariates such as regional variation, secular trends (i.e. period effects), parental and spousal survival were also taken into consideration. Our findings show that individuals with at least one sibling surviving beyond 85 years of age …

Post-Reproductive Longevity In A Natural Fertility Population, Alain Gagnon, Ryan Mazan, Bertrand Desjardins, Ken R. Smith

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Fertility patterns may be useful markers for rates of biological aging. Based on evolutionary and socio-demographic approaches to historical data from the population of Québec (taken from the Registre de population du Québec ancien at the University of Montreal), we examine the effects of reproduction on longevity. Using Cox hazard models on about 2,000 couples married in the colony before 1740, we show that women bearing their last child late in life had longer post-reproductive lives, suggesting that late menopause is associated with an overall slower rate of aging. Increased parity had an opposite, detrimental effect on women’s post-reproductive survival. …

Family Models For Earning And Caring: Implications For Child Care, Roderic Beaujot, Zenaida Ravanera

PSC Discussion Papers Series

The bases for family change include an economy that provides more work opportunities for women, and a cultural orientation that values equal opportunity and legitimates family models other than the traditional breadwinner model. At the same time, both quantitative and qualitative evidence suggest a prevalent preference for making accommodations for children that include considerable time with children, especially in the infant and toddler years. Thus the average experience is for women to do less and for men to do more paid work in two-parent families that include young children in the home. Our reading of parental preferences suggests an interest …

Correlated Mortality Risks Of Siblings In Kenya: An Examination Of The Concept Of Death Clustering And A Model For Analysis, D. Walter Rasugu Omariba, Roderic Beaujot, Rajulton Fernando

PSC Discussion Papers Series

This paper uses the 1998 Kenya DHS to examine the correlation of mortality risks across siblings. Previously, the random-effect parameter in the random model has been interpreted in terms of unmeasured and unmeasurable factors, suggesting the presence of death clustering. This interpretation is problematic because the concept of unobserved heterogeneity is not the same as death clustering. This paper attempts to clarify the concept of death clustering and demonstrates that the concept needs to be closely associated, and therefore examined, with the sequence of births and deaths in a family. Earlier approaches have been insensitive to sequencing both in the …

Family Structures And Children’S Behavioral Problems: A Latent Growth Curve Analysis, Don Kerr, Joseph Michalski

PSC Discussion Papers Series

The current article analyzes 1994-2000 data from the Canadian National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth to examine the relevance of family structures to trajectories of parental reports on hyperactivity - inattention among elementary school aged children. A latent growth modelling approach is used to compare children living in intact families, lone-parent families, stepfamilies, and families where parents divorced or separated. The results highlight the apparent advantages to living in intact families and the slightly greater risks experienced by children living in stepfamilies. Children in lone-parent families, while experiencing an initial disadvantage, displayed a similar trajectory on hyperactivity to children …

Work And Family Life Trajectories Of Young Canadians: Evidence From The 2001 General Social Survey, Zenaida Ravanera, Rajulton Fernando

PSC Discussion Papers Series

From the 1980s, there has been a trend among young Canadians to delay their transition to adulthood. This is seen as an indicator of greater investment in career and work life (most often, with parental help) before investing in reproduction. However, there are concerns expressed particularly for women that those with smaller parental and personal resources follow a different life course trajectory. They become parents at younger ages and are more likely to experience family dissolution and lone parenthood.

The study uses Statistics Canada’s 2001 General Social Survey on Family History and focuses on men and women born from 1966 …

Social Status Polarization In The Timing And Trajectories To Motherhood, Zenaida R. Ravanera, Rajulton Fernando

PSC Discussion Papers Series

This paper examines the polarization by socio-economic status of Canadian women’s timing of and trajectories to motherhood. The study uses data gathered through the 2001 GSS on Family History and focuses on women born from 1922 to 1980. Women with high social status are more likely to delay their entry into motherhood and to follow trajectories that include graduation from post-secondary education. In contrast, women with low social status are more likely to follow shorter routes, often bypassing graduation from post-secondary education, regular work, or marriage, and consequently start motherhood at younger age.

Stress And Adult Health: Impact Of Time Spent In Paid And Unpaid Work, And Its Division In Families, Roderic Beaujot, Robert Anderson

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Based on a sample representative of the Canadian population aged 30-59, this paper assesses the impact of time spent on productive activities, and various types of activities, on stress and health. The main finding is that the number of hours spent is a better predictor of stress than is the type of activity. Moreover, the effects of paid and unpaid work are additive rather than multiplicative. That is, the more people work, regardless of what they are doing, the more likely they are to feel stressed. Still, working irregular hours and non-traditional family models are also associated with poorer health …

Probing The Future Of Mandatory Retirement In Canada, Don Kerr, Peter Ibbott, Roderic Beaujot

PSC Discussion Papers Series

The future of mandatory retirement is at least partly driven by the changing demographics. In Canada, these demographics include slowing population growth, rapid ageing, declining rates of labour force participation, and slowing growth of the labour force. After reviewing the demographic trends and considering alternate scenarios in labour force participation, we consider the determinants of early departures from the labour force, and suggest scenarios that might reverse these trends. With a decline in labour force entrants, delays in early life transitions and possible reductions in retirement benefits, a trend to retire later would bring mandatory retirement into question.

Bifurcation By Social Status In The Onset Of Fatherhood, Zenaida R. Ravanera, Rajulton Fernando

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Abstract not available

Social Assistance, Custody And Child Poverty: Cross-National Comparisons, Roderic Beaujot, Jianye Liu

PSC Discussion Papers Series

The prevalence of low income for children, especially for children in lone-parent families, varies considerably across countries. This paper considers five sets of hypotheses that may be relevant to the cross-national variability of child poverty. The tentative conclusion from this analysis in 20 countries is that reducing child poverty, and in lone-parent families in particular, requires several approaches. Provisions that would discourage teenage childbearing would have their importance, as would opportunities for lone mothers to work. More important is the generosity of social expenditure applying to individuals and especially to families. The present analysis also shows the advantages of encouraging …

Women’S Educational Attainment And Intergenerational Patterns Of Fertility Behaviour In Kenya, D. Walter Rasugu Omariba

PSC Discussion Papers Series

There is a strong theoretical and empirical relationship between educational attainment and fertility behaviour. However, a fundamental question that has largely been neglected is the change in this relationship across cohorts resulting from differential improvement in educational opportunities for women over time and how it relates to fertility transition. Utilizing the 1998 DHS data from Kenya this study examines the differential effect of educational attainment on women’s use of modern contraception and desire for cessation of childbearing across generations. The findings indicate that even after controlling for husband’s education and other relevant factors, a woman’s advanced education is positively associated …

How Cohesive Are Canadian Cmas? A Measure Of Social Cohesion Using The National Survey Of Giving, Volunteering, And Participating, Rajulton Fernando, Zenaida R. Ravanera, Roderic Beaujot

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Social cohesion is a concept difficult to define and to measure. As there can be many definitions, so there can be many measurements. The main problem, either in defining or measuring the concept, is its multi-level and multi-dimensional nature. At one extreme, country is the most commonly used level to view social cohesion but measurement at this level is of little use for interventions. At the other extreme, community is the most useful level but it is a social construct for which data are difficult to obtain, given the administrative boundaries used in social surveys. As an initial attempt to …

Family Change And Economic Well-Being In Canada: The Case Of Recent Immigrant Families With Children, Jianye Liu, Don Kerr

PSC Discussion Papers Series

This paper examines the relationship between family change and economic well-being among recent immigrant families with children to Canada over the 1977-1997 period. Defining recent immigrants as those having migrated within the past decade, this study documents a substantial decline in the average level of economic well being of immigrants who migrated during the 1990s relative to those who migrated in the 1970s and 1980s. Whereas the average income to needs ratio of all Canadian families with children is up modestly over this period, this same generalization is not true when shifting our emphasis to recent immigrants. In this context, …

Relative Participation Of Men And Women In Paid And Unpaid Work: An Analysis Of Variations By Individual, Family And Community Characteristics, Roderic Beaujot, Zenaida R. Ravanera

PSC Discussion Papers Series

On the basis of the 1998 General Social Survey on Time Use, the relative participation in paid and unpaid work of partners in a household is classified into three types: complementary wherein one partner, usually the wife, does more unpaid work while the other partner does more paid work; double burden wherein one partner does more unpaid work while doing more or the same amount of paid work; and shared roles wherein both partners do about the same amount unpaid work. Couples who are cohabiting, and couples where both partners are working fulltime, have a higher likelihood of both shared …

Charting The Growth Of Canada’S Aboriginal Populations: Problems, Options And Implications, Eric Guimond, Don Kerr, Roderic Beaujot

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Toward the end of the 20th century, the number of persons reporting Aboriginal ancestry in the Canadian Census increased in a rather dramatic manner. For example, in the 2001 Canadian Census, over 1.3 million Canadians reported an Aboriginal origin, which is an increase of about 20 percent over the previous census in 1996. Given that much confusion and inadequate information characterises public discussions of the demographics of Canada’s Aboriginal population, this paper will review the most fundamental data sources and definitions that have been used in documenting the characteristics of this population, as well as outline some of the most …

Fertility Of Canadian Men: Levels, Trends, And Correlates, Zenaida R. Ravanera, Rajulton Fernando

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Abstract not available

Women’S Educational Attainment And The Timing Of Parenthood In Ghana: A Cohort Perspective, Stephen Obeng Gyimah

PSC Discussion Papers Series

This paper examines the effects of women’s educational attainment on the timing of parenthood in Ghana. Given the more enhanced career opportunities in recent years, it is argued that the opportunity cost of parenthood may be higher for contemporary educated women, and as such, they are expected to delay parenthood for longer periods than their counterparts in the past. Using data from the 1998 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, we found that while higher educational attainment was associated with delayed parenthood, significant cohort differences were noticeable. Consistent with our expectations, the effect of higher educational attainment was substantially greater among …

Multiple Causes-Of-Death Statistics In South Africa: Their Utility And Changing Profile Over The Period 1997 To 2001, Sulaiman Bah

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Abstract not available

Ethnicity And Infant Mortality In Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case Of Ghana, Stephen Obeng Gyimah

PSC Discussion Papers Series

This study is premised on the hypothesis that ethnic specific socio-cultural practices such as dietary taboos and food avoidances on mothers and infants, as well as perceptions of disease aetiology and treatment patterns may be salient to infant mortality differentials in Ghana. To inform policy the paper explores if there are significant ethnic differences in the risk of infant death, and whether such differences are due to intrinsic cultural norms or socio-economic disparities. Using data on 3298 recent births from the 1998 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, the bivariate results indicated significant ethnic differences. Relative to Asante children, the risk …

Fertility Response To Childhood Mortality In Sub-Saharan With Emphasis On Ghana And Kenya, Stephen Obeng-Manu Gyimah

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Notwithstanding the extensive social scientific research, there are still unanswered questions regarding the persistence of high fertility in sub-Saharan Africa. Although fertility behaviour depends on multiplicity of factors, childhood mortality is regarded as an important determinant.However, while the theoretical pathways through which infant and child mortality affect fertility are well understood, the empirical evidence has been inconsistent. Thus, the unsettled nature of the link between childhood mortality and fertility was a major motivation for this study. Methodologically, the paper examines the usefulness of frailty models in exploring the childhood mortality-fertility relationships using DHS data from Ghana and Kenya. Invariably, women …

Lagged Effect Of Childhood Mortality On Reproductive Behavior In Ghana And Kenya, Stephen Obeng-Manu Gyimah

PSC Discussion Papers Series

This paper goes beyond the physiological impact of infant deaths on fertility by examining whether such deaths elicit an explicit, conscious and intentional fertility response in sub-Saharan Africa. The major research questions are: what are the long term implications of childhood mortality on reproductive behavior? Does the death of the first child, for instance, affect the risk of a higher order birth? These questions are examined using DHS data from Ghana and Kenya. At each parity, women with childhood mortality experience were found to have a higher number of subsequent than those without. Additionally, multivariate results suggest that infant deaths …

Effects Of Community And Family Characteristics On Early Life Transitions Of Canadian Youth, Zenaida R. Ravanera, Rajulton Fernando, Thomas K. Burch

PSC Discussion Papers Series

This paper looks at the impact of community and family characteristics on the timing of early life transitions of Canadians born in 1971-75. Effects on the timing of school completion, start of regular work, and home-leaving are examined using a data set that merged the 1995 General Social Survey of the Family with data derived from the enumeration areas of the 1996 Census. Event history techniques of analysis are used to examine timing and trajectories of transition and how they are affected by families and communities. The results show that family and community-level characteristics indicative of availability of material resources, …

The Dynamics Of Spacing And Timing Of Births In Ghana, Stephen Obeng-Manu Gyimah

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Studying the dynamics of timing and spacing of births is important for several reasons including an understanding of completed family size as well as maternal and child mortality differentials. Using the 1998 DHS data, this paper examines whether there are intrinsic socio-cultural factors that affect the duration of birth intervals in Ghana. The results suggest that while most socio-cultural differences are mediated through socio-economic and demographic factors, there is the persistence of ethnic-specific norms and practices that affect the timing of births. At all durations, Ewes and Mole- Dagbanis were consistently found to have longer intervals between successive births than …

Projecting The Future Of Canada’S Population: Assumptions, Implications, And Policy, Roderic Beaujot

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Abstract not available

Difficulties Encountered In Projecting Canada’S Aboriginal Population, Don Kerr, M.-J. Norris, E. Guimond

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Abstract not available