Journal of Marriage and Family最新文献

{"title":"Intergenerational Support and Later Life Health: Associations by Role, Type and Direction of Support","authors":"Ariane Bertogg,&nbsp;Anna Manzoni","doi":"10.1111/jomf.70049","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.70049","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study aims to examine the health consequences of intergenerational support, distinguishing between providers and receivers (role), financial and practical support (type), and upward and downward support (direction).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Intergenerational support is an important pillar for coping with some of the challenges of aging societies. However, its health implications may differ across health outcomes, for providers and receivers, as well as the resources being transferred.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We draw on six waves from the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), collected 2004–2017, and focus on respondents aged 60 or older whose youngest child was aged 25–60. Respondents may be both children and parents. Using fixed effects modeling, we analyze the association between the provision and receipt of intergenerational support and changes in five subjective and objective measures of physical and mental health (grip strength, chronic conditions, self-rated health, depression, and quality of life).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Both providing and receiving support are associated with decreases in health. Providing support is associated with more chronic conditions and lower mental health and well-being. Practical and upward support to parents mostly accounts for these findings. Receiving practical support in particular is associated with health declines, specifically if received upwardly.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our study suggests that extensive reliance on informal support arrangements may come with longer-term health costs. This may undermine the potential for intergenerational solidarity needed to cope with individual and societal crises.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48440,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Marriage and Family","volume":"88 3","pages":"807-824"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jomf.70049","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148069834","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mental Health Following Silver Splits: A Dyadic Approach to Depressive Symptoms","authors":"Lisa Jessee,&nbsp;Jeffrey E. Stokes","doi":"10.1111/jomf.70032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.70032","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Drawing on the stress generation model, emotional contagion theory, and gender-as-relational approach, this study adopts a dyadic approach to mental health following later-life separation, or “silver splits” (i.e., partnership dissolution at or after age 50), and examines whether depressive symptoms in a partner <i>before</i> separation can be a stress factor, potentially leading to reduced depressive symptoms <i>afterward</i>, with a focus on gender differences therein.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Later-life separation has been associated with loneliness and psychological distress among older adults, but recent evidence suggests it can also result in positive mental health outcomes for some individuals, depending on the relationship dynamics prior to the dissolution.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We applied multilevel dyadic lagged dependent variable models on longitudinal data from the 2002 to 2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (www.hrs.isr.umich.edu), focusing on 942 later life separation experiences during the observation period. Importantly, we only included cases where the individual had a cohabiting partner prior to separation and where the partner independently reported their own depressive symptoms before the separation occurred.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Results show that partners' higher depressive symptoms before separation were significantly associated with <i>reductions</i> in individuals' own depressive symptoms following separation; however, this effect was only observed among men.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our findings underscore the importance of moving beyond average effects when studying later-life separation and highlight the need to account for partnership dynamics prior to separation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48440,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Marriage and Family","volume":"88 3","pages":"838-847"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jomf.70032","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148079452","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Same-Sex Marriage Market Opportunity and Racial Exogamy: Testing the Availability Thesis","authors":"Haoming Song","doi":"10.1111/jomf.70044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.70044","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To examine the association between same-sex marriage market opportunity and racial exogamy among newly formed same-sex male and female marriages.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Same-sex marriages, particularly those among men, are more likely to be interracial than different-sex marriages. The availability thesis attributes this to the limited opportunity to meet eligible same-race partners in the same-sex marriage market. Yet, empirical tests of this thesis remain scarce, partly due to challenges in capturing same-sex marriage markets in representative data.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Adopting the American Community Survey (ACS) 2015–2023, we estimated logistic regression models to predict racial exogamy among newlywed same-sex couples in which at least one spouse is non-Hispanic White (<i>N</i> = 1087 male; <i>N</i> = 1253 female couples). Marriage market opportunity was measured using state-level Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, defined as the percentage of White, unmarried gay and bisexual men (or lesbian and bisexual women) among all unmarried male (or female) adults.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In models including individual and couple-level controls, greater marriage market opportunity was associated with lower odds of racial exogamy among women and men, providing initial support for the availability thesis. Yet, this association became statistically nonsignificant after adjusting for state-level contexts. Alternative opportunity measures concerning bisexual adults yielded similar results.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study is among the first to use representative data to conceptualize and operationalize same-sex marriage markets and link them to racial intermarriage. The null finding raises questions about the applicability of the availability thesis to same-sex contexts and suggests that the distinctive features of same-sex partner search may weaken the impact of market opportunity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48440,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Marriage and Family","volume":"88 3","pages":"870-880"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148097512","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Redefining Father Roles in Family Sexual Health Communication: A Qualitative Exploration","authors":"Jennifer M. Grossman,&nbsp;Juliana A. Juarbe Toledo,&nbsp;Amanda M. Richer,&nbsp;Michelle Sullivan,&nbsp;Laura Widman","doi":"10.1111/jomf.70042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.70042","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study qualitatively investigated fathers' perspectives on family roles and communication related to talking with teens about sex and relationships.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Father-teen talk about sex and relationships can protect teens from sexual risk behaviors. However, few studies explore fathers' roles and engagement within family systems to support teens' sexual health and relationships.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 43 fathers of high school-aged teens. Interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Results identified themes related to fathers' feelings about talking with their teens about sex, fathers' talk with their own parents about sex, fathers' and mothers' roles in talking with their teens about sex, and parents' communication with each other about their teens' sexual health.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study identifies supports and barriers to father–teen communication about sex and suggests that parents' patterns of coparenting extend to supporting their teens' sexual health.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Implications</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These findings show the need to expand our understanding of father-teen communication about sex from a dyadic relationship to one which is embedded in a family system.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48440,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Marriage and Family","volume":"88 3","pages":"672-684"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148061742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48440,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Marriage and Family","volume":"88 3","pages":"609-613"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148074743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Parenting While Black: Ethnic-Racial Socialization Among Netherlands-Based Caribbean and West-African Heritage Mothers","authors":"Daudi van Veen,&nbsp;Rosanneke A. G. Emmen,&nbsp;Judi Mesman","doi":"10.1111/jomf.70045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.70045","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study explores how and why West African and Caribbean heritage mothers in the Netherlands engage in ethnic-racial socialization.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>West African and Caribbean communities have long histories in the Netherlands. Even though parents from these communities are tasked with helping children navigate mainstream Dutch culture, learn about their cultural heritage, and cope with discrimination, little is known about these parents' ethnic-racial socialization practices.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The authors used a mixed-methods approach and drew on self-report, observations, and interview data collected from Netherlands-based West African and Caribbean heritage mothers of 6- to 10-year-old children (<i>N</i> = 48).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The findings highlight how mothers engage in a range of ethnic-racial socialization practices, often proactively but at times reactively. The qualitative findings reveal how their cultural heritage, migration histories, and being racialized as Black shape these practices. In addition to these factors, mothers' ethnic-racial socialization practices were also informed by their perceptions of what children needed to learn to effectively navigate their environments (e.g., culturally diverse schools).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study contributes to the literature by highlighting the complexity of ethnic-racial socialization as a process that is proactive and reactive, as well as shaped by mothers' positionalities and the challenges they face in their environments.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Implications</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These findings can inform the development of culturally appropriate measures in order to promote positive child development.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48440,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Marriage and Family","volume":"88 3","pages":"709-724"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jomf.70045","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148097177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating the In-Laws: Class and Kin Support Within Marriage in Urban Kenya","authors":"Kirsten Stoebenau,&nbsp;Nikita Viswasam,&nbsp;Estelle M. Sidze,&nbsp;Sangeetha Madhavan","doi":"10.1111/jomf.70039","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jomf.70039","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study compares affinal kin relationships in low-income and higher-income families in Nairobi, Kenya.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In most studies of kinship structure and relationships in sub-Saharan Africa, culture serves as the basis upon which norms and expectations of kin are differentiated. While important, within the context of increasing economic inequality, it may be that marriage and kinship expectations and practices are also increasingly differentiated by social class, reflecting increasing social stratification in family formation and organization.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Narrative and thematic analysis were used on qualitative data from 46 in-depth interviews with 28 low-income, and 18 middle- and high-income women and men, married or living with a partner, to understand class-based differences in kin integration by gender.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Across class, among women, the levels of affinal kin integration varied; among men, those in the low-income category described very limited affinal-kin integration due to economic constraints, whereas their higher-income peers were able to maintain close ties with affinal kin mainly attributable to having advanced in the union formalization process. At the same time, however, higher-income participants—both men and women—expressed a desire for greater couple-level autonomy in decision-making.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>There are emerging class-based differences in the structure and value of support from and relationships with affinal kin, which, in turn hold important implications for the reproduction of social stratification.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48440,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Marriage and Family","volume":"88 3","pages":"777-790"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13148376/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Future Life Plans and Relationship Formation: A Bidirectional Approach Based on Evidence From Finland","authors":"Steffen Peters,&nbsp;Rasmus Mannerström,&nbsp;Katariina Salmela-Aro","doi":"10.1111/jomf.70037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.70037","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study examines the prospective and bidirectional association between personal identity processes and relationship formation using longitudinal survey data from Finland.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Although psychological factors have increasingly been studied as determinants for family formation processes, the role of identity exploration and commitment processes for relationship formation has been underexplored. We show that identity (un)certainty in the domain of future life plans is an important driver for relationship formation, and that relationship status may shape identity (un)certainty in turn.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We apply event-history analyses in order to study the prospective power of both separate identity processes (variable-centered approach) and clusters of these (person-oriented approach) on relationship formation risks. Furthermore, we conduct fixed effects linear regression models for examining identity development over time based on relationship status.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Findings suggest that identity uncertainty is negatively, and certainty is positively associated with relationship formation risks over time. Results based on cluster analyses support these findings, that is, committers are more likely to enter a relationship, in particular marriage, than explorers. Mixed findings with regard to identity development over time emerge. Whereas firm identity (i.e., commitment) remains stable over time among partnered individuals, it decreases among singles. However, relationship status does not impact exploration developments.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Relationship formation decisions in contemporary Finland are intertwined with the (un)certainty of personal identity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48440,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Marriage and Family","volume":"88 3","pages":"643-658"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jomf.70037","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148066668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"What Lies Between Them? Exploring Relational Dynamics Among Hetero-Gay Co-Parents","authors":"Lior Bar,&nbsp;Ahuva Even-Zohar","doi":"10.1111/jomf.70035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.70035","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study seeks to enhance knowledge of the relationships between elective co-parents in hetero-gay families.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Elective co-parenting is an alternative family form that encompasses parents who are not intimate partners but decide to collaborate for the purpose of having children and raising them together. Co-parenting families in Israel are mostly headed by a heterosexual mother and a gay father, called hetero-gay families in the literature.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To learn about how parents in hetero-gay families experience the relationship with their parenting partner, a qualitative study was conducted based on 12 semi-structured in-depth interviews with parents in hetero-gay families (six fathers and six mothers). The interviews followed the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) research method.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Findings</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In the study it was found that parents' experience of the relationship with their parenting partner is based on three major elements: trust, partnership, and emotional closeness. Based on these elements, a conceptual model was developed, including four relationship profiles that reflect different “affinity degrees” (degrees of connection strength).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study indicates that relationships between co-parents can be experienced variably and with different degrees of affinity, affected by the parents' experiences concerning issues of trust, partnership, and emotional closeness. This insight can help direct interventions by family therapists to these relevant core issues, as well as outlining the utilization of relational intervention methods capable of reinforcing one's sense of affinity in family relations.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48440,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Marriage and Family","volume":"88 3","pages":"659-671"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jomf.70035","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148068758","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Working Toward Parenthood: Employment and First Births Among Different-Sex Couples in the United States","authors":"Kristen Lagasse Burke","doi":"10.1111/jomf.70033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.70033","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Given the joint nature of fertility processes, this study evaluates the relationship between couples' employment characteristics and their transition to parenthood in the US.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The rise of dual-earning couples suggests progress toward gender egalitarianism. However, gendered imbalances in household responsibilities persist. Investigating whether couples with gender-traditional or gender-egalitarian arrangements are more likely to become parents offers insights into contemporary gender dynamics and the selection process into parenthood.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using data on 22,314 different-sex coresidential couples' employment from the 2013–2019 Current Population Survey and their occupational characteristics from the O*NET, I estimate the average marginal effect of his and her employment status, employment investments, and job demands on couples' transition to parenthood.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Dual-earning couples were the most likely to transition to parenthood, even net of earnings. Among dual-earners, there were pronounced gender differences in the employment characteristics associated with fertility. Men's full-time employment was strongly and consistently associated with transitioning to parenthood. Couples in which women worked in jobs with greater time pressure than their partners were less likely to become parents.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Although dual-earning arrangements suggest progress toward egalitarianism, gendered differences in the relationship between employment and fertility persist, highlighting the persistent nature of breadwinning norms for men. These findings underscore the selection processes into parenthood and shed light on how gender inequality emerges and is reinforced across the transition to parenthood.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48440,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Marriage and Family","volume":"88 3","pages":"615-628"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148086293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}