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Does Late Reproduction Extend the Life Span? Findings from European Royalty

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  • Ulrich Mueller

Abstract

Statistical associations between late reproduction and female longevity led to speculations that a late birth increases a mother's life span. The database used here includes all descendants of King George I of England (1660–1727) and his wife, Sophie Dorothea (1666–1726), born in the royal dynasties in Europe up to 1939 (n=1,672). In the era of British world supremacy, these descendants formed the uppermost layer of the European aristocracy, occupying all royal thrones from 1850 onward. Novel in this study is the use of pedigree information. In pairs of ever‐married full sisters (brothers), both surviving to 45 (50) years, both having at least one child, the study examines whether the sibling with the first—or last—child born later in life also lived a longer life. This design controls for genetics, socioeconomic status, parity, social support, child mortality, birth cohort, and various environmental factors. In the 157 pairs of sisters and 191 pairs of brothers, later reproduction did not extend the life span.

Suggested Citation

  • Ulrich Mueller, 2004. "Does Late Reproduction Extend the Life Span? Findings from European Royalty," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 30(3), pages 449-466, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:popdev:v:30:y:2004:i:3:p:449-466
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1728-4457.2004.00023.x
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    Cited by:

    1. S. Ryan Johansson, 2010. "Medics, Monarchs and Mortality, 1600-1800: Origins of the Knowledge-Driven Health Transition in Europe," Economics Series Working Papers Number85, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    2. George Alter & Martin Dribe & Frans Poppel, 2007. "Widowhood, family size, and post-reproductive Mortality: a comparative Analysis of three populations in Nineteenth-Century Europe," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 44(4), pages 785-806, November.
    3. Spence, Naomi J. & Eberstein, Isaac W., 2009. "Age at first birth, parity, and post-reproductive mortality among white and black women in the US, 1982-2002," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(9), pages 1625-1632, May.
    4. S. Ryan Johansson, 2010. "Medics, Monarchs and Mortality, 1600-1800: Origins of the Knowledge-Driven Health Transition in Europe," Oxford Economic and Social History Working Papers _085, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    5. Aart C. Liefbroer & Dimiter Philipov & Francesco C. Billari, 2006. "The Postponement of Childbearing in Europe: Driving Forces and Implications," Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, vol. 4(1), pages 1-17.

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