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Intentions for Childlessness in the United States

Sun, August 11, 10:30 to 11:30am, Sheraton New York, Floor: Third Floor, New York Ballroom West

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to describe the changes in intentions to remain childless (ITRC) among childless men and women in the United States in the first decades of the 21st century. This study uses data from the National Survey of Family Growth cycles from 2002, 2006-2010, 2011-2013, and 2013-2015 and multivariate logistic regression to provide nationally representative estimates of the trends in the ITRC. Differences in the ITRC across gender, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, and union status subgroups are reported. Findings indicate a recent increase in the ITRC for childless men and women aged 18-24 but a decline in the ITRC among childless men aged 30-39. Childless men and women with 16 or more years of education have the lowest likelihood of reporting the ITRC. As college educated women have the highest rates of permanent childlessness, this finding highlights an important discrepancy between women’s childbearing plans and realities.

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