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Birth Intervals and Health in Adulthood: A Comparison of Siblings Using Swedish Register Data

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  • Kieron J. Barclay

    (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
    London School of Economics and Political Science
    Stockholm University)

  • Martin Kolk

    (Stockholm University
    Stockholm University
    Institute for Futures Studies)

Abstract

A growing body of research has examined whether birth intervals influence perinatal outcomes and child health as well as long-term educational and socioeconomic outcomes. To date, however, very little research has examined whether birth spacing influences long-term health. We use contemporary Swedish population register data to examine the relationship between birth-to-birth intervals and a variety of health outcomes in adulthood: for men, height, physical fitness, and the probability of falling into different body mass index categories; and for men and women, mortality. In models that do not adjust carefully for family background, we find that short and long birth intervals are clearly associated with height, physical fitness, being overweight or obese, and mortality. However, after carefully adjusting for family background using a within-family sibling comparison design, we find that birth spacing is generally not associated with long-term health, although we find that men born after very long birth intervals have a higher probability of being overweight or obese in early adulthood. Overall, we conclude that birth intervals have little independent effect on long-term health outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Kieron J. Barclay & Martin Kolk, 2018. "Birth Intervals and Health in Adulthood: A Comparison of Siblings Using Swedish Register Data," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 55(3), pages 929-955, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:demogr:v:55:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s13524-018-0673-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s13524-018-0673-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Kieron Barclay & Anna Baranowska-Rataj & Martin Kolk & Anneli Ivarsson, 2020. "Interpregnancy intervals and perinatal and child health in Sweden: A comparison within families and across social groups," Population Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 74(3), pages 363-378, September.
    2. Mats Lillehagen & Martin Arstad Isungset, 2020. "New Partner, New Order? Multipartnered Fertility and Birth Order Effects on Educational Achievement," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 57(5), pages 1625-1646, October.
    3. Venla Berg & Anneli Miettinen & Markus Jokela & Anna Rotkirch, 2020. "Shorter birth intervals between siblings are associated with increased risk of parental divorce," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, January.
    4. Fernando Delbianco & Federico Fioravanti & Fernando Tohm'e, 2020. "The Impact of Birth Order on Behavior in Contact Team Sports: the Evidence of Rugby Teams in Argentina," Papers 2004.09421, arXiv.org.
    5. Kieron J. Barclay & Ken R. Smith, 2020. "The effects of birth spacing on health and socioeconomic outcomes across the life course: evidence from the Utah Population Database," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2020-038, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    6. Michael S. Rendall & Eowna Young Harrison & Mónica L. Caudillo, 2020. "Intentionally or Ambivalently Risking a Short Interpregnancy Interval: Reproductive-Readiness Factors in Women’s Postpartum Non-Use of Contraception," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 57(3), pages 821-841, June.

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