Social Fathering and Childlessness

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Demography
• Family Studies

Background:

• Increasing rates of childlessness in Norway and Western countries.
• Focus on social fathering as a factor influencing fertility decisions.
• Need to understand the nuances of non-biological fatherhood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between social fathering and childlessness.
• To examine how partnership characteristics modify this relationship.
• To provide insights into evolving family structures and fertility patterns.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Norwegian administrative register data for men born in 1980.
• Employed sequence analysis to define men's partnership histories over 18 years.
• Estimated the relationship between social fatherhood and childlessness at age 42.

Main Results:

• Men experiencing social fathering are more likely to be childless.
• The relationship is moderated by partnership duration, timing, and complexity.
• Transient social fathering and unstable partnerships correlate with higher childlessness.

Conclusions:

• Social fathering is linked to increased childlessness, particularly within unstable partnership contexts.
• Long-term social fathering within stable partnerships also shows a higher likelihood of childlessness compared to childless men in similar partnerships.
• Findings highlight the complex interplay between non-biological fatherhood, partnership dynamics, and fertility outcomes.