Counting on Potential Grandparents? Adult Children's Entry Into Parenthood Across European Countries

As populations age and longevity rises, the structure of the extended family is changing. Parents of young children are increasingly turning to the children's grandparents to provide childcare and help them reconcile work and family. This study is the first to investigate whether would-be grandparents' propensity to care for their grandchildren influences the adult children's transition to parenthood. Because grandparental childcare provision is not observable at the time of the transition to the first birth, I built a measure based on the characteristics of both actual grandparents and adult children to act as a proxy for the childcare that prospective grandparents are expected to provide in the future. Using data from the first two waves of the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe, I examine changes in the likelihood of having a first birth by different levels of expected future childcare provision. Given that the role grandparents play varies depending on the national context, I estimate distinct models for different groups of countries. Furthermore, I analyze different intensities of grandparental childcare: regular, occasional, and any other type of positive childcare. The comparison across 11 countries reveals that grandparental propensity to provide occasional childcare has a positive effect on the transition to parenthood in all country clusters and that grandparental propensity to provide regular childcare has a positive and significant association with having a first child in both pro-natalist (Belgium and France) and pro-traditional countries (Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland)

Moving Closer for the Grandchild? Fertility and the Geographical Proximity of a Mother and Her Adult Daughter in a Dynamic Perspective

Recent research has analyzed how the geographical distance between moth­ers and adult daugh­ters influ­enced the daugh­ters’ fer­til­ity tran­si­tions. The inverse rela­tion­ship has received less atten­tion: that is, whether a daugh­ter’s fer­til­ity—her preg­nan­cies and the ages and num­ber of her chil­dren—is affected by her geo­graph­i­cal prox­im­ity to her mother. The cur­rent study helps to close this gap by con­sid­er­ing moves by either adult daugh­ters or moth­ers that lead them to live nearby again. We use Bel­gian reg­is­ter data on a cohort of 16,742 first­born girls aged 15 at the begin­ning of 1991 and their moth­ers who lived apart at least once dur­ing the observed period (1991–2015). Estimating event-his­tory mod­els for recur­rent events, we ana­lyzed whether an adult daugh­ter’s preg­nan­cies and the ages and num­ber of her chil­dren affected the like­li­hood that she was again liv­ing close to her mother and, if so, whether the daugh­ter’s or the mother’s move enabled this close liv­ing arrange­ment. The results show that daugh­ters were more likely to move closer to their moth­ers dur­ing their first preg­nancy and that moth­ers were more likely to move closer to their daugh­ters when the daugh­ters’ children were older than 2.5 years. This study con­trib­utes to the grow­ing lit­er­a­ture inves-ti­gat­ing how fam­ily ties shape (im)mobil­ity.</p

Time, money, and entry into parenthood:The role of (grand)parental support

Objective: The study's objective is to understand how parental propensities to provide support, as predicted by parental characteristics, shape adult daughters' and sons' entry into parenthood in the United States. Background: Much research explores the influence of parental support on adult children's fertility, but the evidence is mixed and primarily focuses on European contexts. Theoretical approaches suggest that to best understand how parental support shapes adult children's outcomes, it is important to account for different forms of parental support, that is, time and money, and variation in parental characteristics. Method: This study combined different data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics: the 2013 Roster and Family Transfers module, main interview data file, and the Childbirth and Adoption History File. We implemented a two-step analysis strategy. In the first, we built two different measures of propensities to receive parental support (PPS) in the form of time and money. In the second, we used discrete-time logistic regression models to analyze the effects of these propensities to receive parental support on adult daughters' and sons' fertility. Results: We find a positive and consistent effect of all types of PPS measures on adult daughters', but not adult sons', likelihood of entry into parenthood. The fertility decisions of adult daughters are highly responsive to the prospect of receiving parental support in the form of time or money. Conclusions: Our results reflect the importance of informal support for women's entry into parenthood and highlight gender differences in the perceived and actual costs of becoming parents

Marital status, living arrangements, and mortality in middle and older age in Europe.

Objectives We study the role of marital status and living arrangements in mortality among a 50+ population living in Europe by gender and welfare states.MethodsUsing data from waves 4, 5, and 6 of the Survey of Health Age and Retirement in Europe (n = 54,171), we implemented Cox proportional hazard models by gender and age groups (50-64 and 65-84). We estimated pooled models and separated models for two regions representing different welfare states (South-East and North-West). Results Among people aged 50-64, nonpartnered individuals (except never-married women) showed a higher mortality risk as compared with those partnered. Among the older population (65-84), divorce was associated with higher mortality among men, but not among women, and living with someone other than a partner was associated with higher mortality risk as compared to those partnered. In the South-East region living with a partner at ages 50-64 was associated with lower mortality. Conclusions Partnership and residential status are complementary for understanding the role of family dimensions in mortality. The presence of a partner is mortality protective, especially among 50-64-year-old men in South-East Europe

Cardiac surgery in the time of the novel coronavirus:Why we should think to a new normal

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak a pandemic. At the time of writing, 24 May 2020 more than 5 million individuals have been tested positive and the death toll was over 330 000 deaths worldwide. The initial data pointed out the tight bond between cardiovascular diseases and worse health outcomes in COVID19-patients. Epidemiologically speaking, there is an overlap between the age-groups more affected by COVID-related death and the age-groups in which Cardiac Surgery has its usual base of patients. The Cardiac Surgery Departments have to think to anew normal: since the virus will remain endemic in the society, dedicated pathways or even dedicated Teams are pivotal to treat safely the patients, in respect of the safety of the health care workers. Moreover, we need a keen eye on deciding which pathologies have to be treated with priority: Coronary artery Disease showed a higher mortality rate in patients affected by COVID19, but it is, however, reasonable to think that all the cardiac pathologies affecting the lung circulation-such as symptomatic severe mitral diseases or aortic stenosis-might deserve a priority access to treatment, to increase the survival rate in case of an acquired-Coronavirus infection later on

Fertility and family ties in times of demographic changes

This thesis investigates how big economic and demographic changes over the past century influence fertility dynamics with a particular focus on family ties. The first chapter investigates the role of type of partnership in shaping fertility behaviours. Comparing two orthogonally different countries like Norway and Spain, we analyse differences in fertility behaviours between cohabiting and married couples in both countries. For Norway, we find a significant association between selection into either partnership type and fertility, whereas for Spain, a newcomer to cohabitation, we find a significant association between fertility and selection into marriage. The second chapter analyses the role of the so called “bean-pole” family on fertility. It investigates whether would-be grandparents’ propensity to care for their grandchildren influences their transition into parenthood. Considering national context, I estimate distinct models for different groups of countries. Comparison across 11 countries from the first two waves of the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe reveal that grandparental childcare propensity has a positive and significant effect on the transition into parenthood for both pronatalist (Belgium, France) and protraditional countries(Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland). The third chapter focuses on grandparental childcare provision. By using an instrumental variable approach, it explores the effect of grandparental childcare, during the first year of the first born, on the risk of a second birth transition among UK couples. The analysis is carried out using the first five waves of the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS). Results show a positive and significant effect of grandparental childcare on the risk of second birth. This effect is slightly weakened by level of incomeAquesta tesi investiga com els grans canvis econòmics i demogràfics ocorreguts durant l’últim segle han influenciat les dinàmiques de fertilitat, amb especial èmfasi en els vincles familiars. El primer capítol investiga el rol del tipus de parella en la configuració dels patrons de fertilitat. Mitjançant la comparació de dos països ortogònicament diferents, Noruega i Espanya, analitzem les diferències d’aquests dos països en els comportaments de fertilitat entre la cohabitació i el matrimoni. A Noruega trobem una associació significativa entre la selecció en qualsevol tipus de parella i la fertilitat, mentre que per a Espanya, a on el fenomen de la cohabitació és més recent, trobem una associació significativa entre la fertilitat i la selecció al matrimoni. El segon capítol analitza el paper de l'anomenada família bean-pole en la fertilitat, analitzant en detall si la propensió dels futurs avis a cuidar els seus néts influeix en la transició cap a la paternitat dels seus fills. En aquest cas, i tenint en compte el context nacional, es calculen diferents models per a diferents grups de països. La comparació entre 11 països de les dues primeres ones de l'Enquesta de Salut, Envelliment i Jubilació a Europa (SHARE) revela que la propensió a cuidar els néts té un efecte positiu i significatiu sobre la transició cap a la paternitat, tant per als països pro-natalistes (Bèlgica, França) com per als països pro-tradicionals (Àustria, Alemanya, Grècia, Itàlia, Espanya i Suïssa). Per últim, el tercer capítol es centra en l’efecte que produeix l’atenció als primer néts per part dels avis sobre un possible segon naixement entre les parelles del Regne Unit. Mitjançant l'ús d'un enfocament de la variable instrumental, l’anàlisi es realitza mitjançant les primeres cinc ones del Millennium Cohort Study (MCS). Els resultats mostren un efecte positiu i significatiu dels avis en el risc d’un segon naixement. Aquest efecte està lleugerament debilitat pel nivell d'ingressos

Fertility and family ties in times of demographic changes

This thesis investigates how big economic and demographic changes over the past century influence fertility dynamics with a particular focus on family ties. The first chapter investigates the role of type of partnership in shaping fertility behaviours. Comparing two orthogonally different countries like Norway and Spain, we analyse differences in fertility behaviours between cohabiting and married couples in both countries. For Norway, we find a significant association between selection into either partnership type and fertility, whereas for Spain, a newcomer to cohabitation, we find a significant association between fertility and selection into marriage. The second chapter analyses the role of the so called “bean-pole” family on fertility. It investigates whether would-be grandparents’ propensity to care for their grandchildren influences their transition into parenthood. Considering national context, I estimate distinct models for different groups of countries. Comparison across 11 countries from the first two waves of the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe reveal that grandparental childcare propensity has a positive and significant effect on the transition into parenthood for both pronatalist (Belgium, France) and protraditional countries(Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland). The third chapter focuses on grandparental childcare provision. By using an instrumental variable approach, it explores the effect of grandparental childcare, during the first year of the first born, on the risk of a second birth transition among UK couples. The analysis is carried out using the first five waves of the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS). Results show a positive and significant effect of grandparental childcare on the risk of second birth. This effect is slightly weakened by level of incomeAquesta tesi investiga com els grans canvis econòmics i demogràfics ocorreguts durant l’últim segle han influenciat les dinàmiques de fertilitat, amb especial èmfasi en els vincles familiars. El primer capítol investiga el rol del tipus de parella en la configuració dels patrons de fertilitat. Mitjançant la comparació de dos països ortogònicament diferents, Noruega i Espanya, analitzem les diferències d’aquests dos països en els comportaments de fertilitat entre la cohabitació i el matrimoni. A Noruega trobem una associació significativa entre la selecció en qualsevol tipus de parella i la fertilitat, mentre que per a Espanya, a on el fenomen de la cohabitació és més recent, trobem una associació significativa entre la fertilitat i la selecció al matrimoni. El segon capítol analitza el paper de l'anomenada família bean-pole en la fertilitat, analitzant en detall si la propensió dels futurs avis a cuidar els seus néts influeix en la transició cap a la paternitat dels seus fills. En aquest cas, i tenint en compte el context nacional, es calculen diferents models per a diferents grups de països. La comparació entre 11 països de les dues primeres ones de l'Enquesta de Salut, Envelliment i Jubilació a Europa (SHARE) revela que la propensió a cuidar els néts té un efecte positiu i significatiu sobre la transició cap a la paternitat, tant per als països pro-natalistes (Bèlgica, França) com per als països pro-tradicionals (Àustria, Alemanya, Grècia, Itàlia, Espanya i Suïssa). Per últim, el tercer capítol es centra en l’efecte que produeix l’atenció als primer néts per part dels avis sobre un possible segon naixement entre les parelles del Regne Unit. Mitjançant l'ús d'un enfocament de la variable instrumental, l’anàlisi es realitza mitjançant les primeres cinc ones del Millennium Cohort Study (MCS). Els resultats mostren un efecte positiu i significatiu dels avis en el risc d’un segon naixement. Aquest efecte està lleugerament debilitat pel nivell d'ingressos

Moving Closer for the Grandchild? Fertility and the Geographical Proximity of a Mother and Her Adult Daughter in a Dynamic Perspective

Recent research has analyzed how the geographical distance between moth­ers and adult daugh­ters influ­enced the daugh­ters’ fer­til­ity tran­si­tions. The inverse rela­tion­ship has received less atten­tion: that is, whether a daugh­ter’s fer­til­ity—her preg­nan­cies and the ages and num­ber of her chil­dren—is affected by her geo­graph­i­cal prox­im­ity to her mother. The cur­rent study helps to close this gap by con­sid­er­ing moves by either adult daugh­ters or moth­ers that lead them to live nearby again. We use Bel­gian reg­is­ter data on a cohort of 16,742 first­born girls aged 15 at the begin­ning of 1991 and their moth­ers who lived apart at least once dur­ing the observed period (1991–2015). Estimating event-his­tory mod­els for recur­rent events, we ana­lyzed whether an adult daugh­ter’s preg­nan­cies and the ages and num­ber of her chil­dren affected the like­li­hood that she was again liv­ing close to her mother and, if so, whether the daugh­ter’s or the mother’s move enabled this close liv­ing arrange­ment. The results show that daugh­ters were more likely to move closer to their moth­ers dur­ing their first preg­nancy and that moth­ers were more likely to move closer to their daugh­ters when the daugh­ters’ children were older than 2.5 years. This study con­trib­utes to the grow­ing lit­er­a­ture inves-ti­gat­ing how fam­ily ties shape (im)mobil­ity.</p

Do I want more if you help me? The impact of grandparental involvement on men’s and women’s fertility intentions

Grandparental support is positively associated with women’s labor force participation and fertility transitions. Specifically, grandparental support shapes adult child’s entry into parenthood by influencing adult child’s expectations about future care. In this framework, the current study investigates whether observed grandparental support impacts adult sons’ and adult daughters’ fertility intentions in a lowest-low fertility country such as Spain. We use data from the new wave of the Spanish Fertility Survey (2018), and we find that receiving grandparental support has a positive and significant impact on women’s but not on men’s fertility intentions. Furthermore, this impact remains positive after controlling for women’s socio-economic characteristics. Finally, education results the main mediator for the relationship between grandparental support and women’s fertility intentions, with highly educated women displaying a significantly increase of their fertility intentions compared to their low-educated counterparts. Our findings highlight gender differences in the perceived role of grandparental support for future fertility, and the importance of informal care for balancing family and work in the Spanish context

Do I want more if you help me? : the impact of grandparental involvement on men's and women's fertility intentions

Grandparental support is positively associated with women's labor force participation and fertility transitions. Specifically, grandparental support shapes adult child's entry into parenthood by influencing adult child's expectations about future care. In this framework, the current study investigates whether observed grandparental support impacts adult sons' and adult daughters' fertility intentions in a lowest-low fertility country such as Spain. We use data from the new wave of the Spanish Fertility Survey (2018), and we find that receiving grandparental support has a positive and significant impact on women's but not on men's fertility intentions. Furthermore, this impact remains positive after controlling for women's socio-economic characteristics. Finally, education results the main mediator for the relationship between grandparental support and women's fertility intentions, with highly educated women displaying a significantly increase of their fertility intentions compared to their low-educated counterparts. Our findings highlight gender differences in the perceived role of grandparental support for future fertility, and the importance of informal care for balancing family and work in the Spanish context