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Life Histories

Life Histories

Applications of Life Tables

Applications of Life Tables

Life tables are versatile across various fields, providing a quantitative basis for analyzing mortality and survival rates. Whether used by demographers, actuaries, epidemiologists, or sociologists, life tables offer valuable insights into the dynamics of life and death, facilitating informed decisions in public health, insurance, conservation, and beyond. Their broad applicability highlights the interconnectedness of demographic data with practical outcomes in everyday life and strategic...

Longitudinal Research

Longitudinal Research

Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...

Fertilization

Fertilization

During fertilization, an egg and sperm cell fuse to create a new diploid structure. In humans, the process occurs once the egg has been released from the ovary, and travels into the fallopian tubes. The process requires several key steps: 1) sperm present in the genital tract must locate the egg; 2) once there, sperm need to release enzymes to help them burrow through the protective zona pellucida of the egg; and 3) the membranes of a single sperm cell and egg must fuse, with the sperm...

Infertility in Females

Infertility in Females

Female infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse and affects about 10–15% of couples worldwide. The primary cause of female infertility is ovulatory disorders, which hinder the release of eggs. These disorders can be classified as hypothalamic amenorrhea, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian failure, and hyperprolactinemic anovulation disorders.
Endometriosis, a condition characterized by abnormal growth of...

Infertility in Males

Infertility in Males

Male infertility affects millions of couples worldwide, arising from various factors that impact different stages of the reproductive process. An endocrine imbalance resulting from conditions like hypogonadism, Klinefelter syndrome, or pituitary disorders can disrupt hormone levels and reduce sperm production. Testicular defects, such as tumors, cryptorchidism, atrophic testes, abnormal sperm morphology, and low sperm count or motility, may arise due to genetic factors, structural...

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Fertility analysis from a life course perspective.

Petra Buhr¹, Johannes Huinink¹

¹Universität Bremen, Bibliothekstraße, 28359 Bremen, Germany.

Advances in Life Course Research

|June 7, 2015

Summary

The life course approach enhances fertility studies by analyzing childbirth timing and incidence. Future research should integrate individual intentions, social contexts, and environmental changes for a comprehensive view.

Keywords:

Dyadic decision-making Fertility intentions Fertility outcomes Multidimensional life course Regional context

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Area of Science:

Demography
Sociology
Reproductive Health

Background:

The life course approach is increasingly vital for understanding childbirth timing and incidence.
Fertility analysis necessitates considering the time dependence, multilevel structure, and multidimensionality of life courses.
Family formation and parenthood are viewed as key components of individual welfare production across the lifespan.

Discussion:

Future fertility research must prioritize pre-decisional individual dispositions and behavioral intentions.
Fertility decisions are embedded within interdependent social relationships and group dynamics.
Changes in cultural and institutional environments significantly impact fertility patterns.

Key Insights:

This special issue presents empirical studies advancing longitudinal fertility research.
Contributions explore childbearing intentions, outcomes, and multidimensional life courses.
Research examines dyadic decision-making, social influences, and the interplay of mobility, region, culture, and fertility.

Outlook:

Integrate individual psychological factors with social network analyses in fertility research.
Develop models that capture the dynamic interplay between individual life courses and macro-level societal changes.
Foster interdisciplinary collaboration to address the complexity of contemporary fertility trends.