Cohort, Race/Ethnicity and Fertility: Health and Retirement Study Women Born Before 1942

• In Event: 1483 - Open Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: Table 03. Aging, Health, and Sexuality Among Immigrants

Abstract

This study examines race and ethnic differentials in completed fertility in three 'historical' cohorts of women in the Health and Retirement Study: the original AHEAD cohort (born before 1924); CODA Cohort (born 1924-1930) and the pre-War HRS cohort (born 1931-1941). We use a zero-inflation negative binomial model to estimate fertility as a function of women’s race/ethnic and demographic backgrounds; family-of-origin socioeconomic resources; adult socioeconomic resources; risk factors including child health; and cohort membership. To preview findings, HRS historical or early cohorts of African American and Hispanic women had significantly higher risks of infertility than white women. AHEAD women had a significantly higher risk of infertility than women in other HRS cohorts. In addition, health risk factors such as ever smoking and poorer youth health, net of other effects, increased women’s risk of infertility.

Authors

• Cheryl Elman, University of Akron

• Angela M. O'Rand, Duke University