Understanding Generational Differences in Early Fertility: Proximate and Social Determinants

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Demography
• Public Health

Background:

• US early fertility rates remain high compared to other high-income nations, with persistent group disparities.
• The growing population of US youth with immigrant parents necessitates understanding generational fertility variations.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate generational differences in early childbearing risk.
• Examine the roles of sexual onset timing and contraceptive use in fertility timing.
• Assess the impact of individual, family, and neighborhood factors on early fertility.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Add Health dataset for comprehensive analysis.
• Employed sequential hazard models to analyze fertility determinants.
• Differentiated between sexual onset and post-onset proximate determinants.

Main Results:

• Foreign-born and second-generation young women exhibit delayed sexual activity and childbearing.
• Later sexual onset is a key factor in delayed fertility for the foreign-born, influenced by family attributes.
• Post-onset behaviors significantly contribute to delayed childbearing among the second generation.

Conclusions:

• Generational status significantly impacts early fertility timing.
• Understanding the interplay of sexual timing, contraceptive use, and social factors is crucial for addressing fertility disparities.
• Immigrant generational status influences pathways to childbearing, highlighting the need for targeted public health interventions.