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Running out of time? Understanding the consequences of the biological clock for the dynamics of fertility intentions and union formation

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Wagner

    (Universität zu Köln)

  • Johannes Huinink

    (Universität Bremen)

  • Aart C. Liefbroer

    (Nederlands Interdisciplinair Demografisch Instituut (NIDI))

Abstract

Background: A considerable proportion of childless women in their late thirties or early forties would still like to have children. The number of men and women whose fertility intentions are potentially influenced by the so-called biological clock for childbearing and who remain involuntarily childless is increasing. Objective: We analyze the short-term dynamics of fertility intentions and partner search among childless, non-partnered men and women aged 35–37. By comparing people in this age group to younger men and women, we investigate whether and how their awareness of the biological clock for childbearing affects their childbearing intentions. Methods: The data stems from the first two waves of the German Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics (pairfam) survey. We selected male and female respondents aged 25–27 (n = 1,073) and 35–37 (n = 369) in Wave 1. Results: Our analyses reveal that fertility intentions are more polarized among men and women aged 35–37 than among their 25–27-year-old counterparts, and are more polarized among women than among men. Finding a partner is shown to positively affect fertility intentions. Our results suggest that people who intensify their fertility intentions are not necessarily successful in finding a partner, which can be seen as a major prerequisite for family formation. Contribution: This is one of the first studies to investigate the fertility intentions of childless men and women whose biological clock is running out. It provides an instructive example for a longitudinal study of the dynamics of life-course-related intentions.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Wagner & Johannes Huinink & Aart C. Liefbroer, 2019. "Running out of time? Understanding the consequences of the biological clock for the dynamics of fertility intentions and union formation," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 40(1), pages 1-26.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:40:y:2019:i:1
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2019.40.1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Florianne C. J. Verkroost, 2022. "A Bayesian multivariate hierarchical growth curve model to examine cumulative socio‐economic (dis)advantage among childless adults and parents," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 185(4), pages 2234-2276, October.
    3. Zuzanna Brzozowska & Eva Beaujouan, 2021. "Assessing Short-Term Fertility Intentions and Their Realisation Using the Generations and Gender Survey: Pitfalls and Challenges," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 37(2), pages 405-416, April.
    4. Georgios Mavropoulos, 2024. "What drives period fertility rates during post-recession spells?," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 41(4), pages 1-26, December.
    5. Ester Lazzari & Anna Reimondos & Edith Gray, 2024. "Did the COVID‐19 Pandemic Affect Fertility Desires in Australia? Understanding Why People Changed Their Attitudes towards Having a First or Additional Child," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 50(S1), pages 243-276, July.
    6. Nadia Sturm & Judith C. Koops & Roberta Rutigliano, 2023. "The Influence of Partnership Status on Fertility Intentions of Childless Women and Men Across European Countries," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 39(1), pages 1-34, December.
    7. Lazzari, Ester & Reimondos, Anna & Gray, Edith, 2022. "Childbearing desires before and after the Covid-19 outbreak in Australia: Who changed their attitudes toward having a first or additional child?," SocArXiv qbgmp, Center for Open Science.
    8. Ester Lazzari & Edith Gray & Bernard Baffour, 2022. "A dyadic approach to the study of perceived subfecundity and contraceptive use," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 47(1), pages 1-36.
    9. Bernice Kuang & Ann Berrington & Sindhu Vasireddy & Hill Kulu, 2025. "The changing inter-relationship between partnership dynamics and fertility trends in Europe and the United States: A review," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 52(7), pages 179-228.
    10. Eva Beaujouan & Kryštof Zeman & Mathías Nathan, 2023. "Delayed first births and completed fertility across the 1940–1969 birth cohorts," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 48(15), pages 387-420.
    11. Irakli Japaridze & Nagham Sayour, 2024. "Correction to: Housing Affordability Crisis and Delayed Fertility: Evidence from the USA," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 43(3), pages 1-1, June.

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    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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