ABSTRACT

This article explores the relationships between partnership trajectories and having an only child. Few studies have focused on one-child families, even though in many countries having just one child is the main factor driving sub-replacement fertility levels. Little is known especially about how non-progression to a second child relates to partnership trajectories. This article contributes to filling these gaps by using a mixed-methods life-course research. We combine sequence and regression analyses of survey data with a biographical analysis of problem-centred interviews with parents of an only child. Based on the Czech Household panel survey, we estimate the probability of having an only child in relation to parents’ different partnership trajectories after the birth of the first child. Analysing the problem-centred interviews, we explore parents’ understanding of the processes that lead them not to progress to a second child. Our findings indicate that having an only child is associated with partnership dissolution after the first child’s birth and with later entry into parenthood. High levels of education are negatively associated with the probability of having an only child among fathers, but positively among mothers. Partnership dissatisfaction and work-life balance issues contribute to non-progression to a second child.

摘要

本文探讨了伴侣关系轨迹与独生子女之间的关系。很少有研究关注独生子女家庭，尽管在许多国家只有一个孩子是推动低于更替生育水平的主要因素。尤其是关于不生育第二个孩子与伙伴关系轨迹的关系知之甚少。本文通过使用混合方法的生命历程研究来填补这些空白。我们将调查数据的序列和回归分析与对独生子女父母的以问题为中心的访谈的传记分析相结合。根据捷克家庭小组调查，我们估计了第一个孩子出生后与父母不同的伙伴关系轨迹相关的独生子女的概率。分析以问题为中心的访谈，我们探讨了父母对导致他们无法生育第二个孩子的过程的理解。我们的研究结果表明，独生子女与第一个孩子出生后的伴侣关系解体以及后来成为父母有关。高水平的教育与父亲中独生子女的可能性呈负相关，但在母亲中则呈正相关。伙伴关系的不满和工作与生活的平衡问题导致第二个孩子没有进步。但在母亲中是积极的。伙伴关系的不满和工作与生活的平衡问题导致第二个孩子没有进步。但在母亲中是积极的。伙伴关系的不满和工作与生活的平衡问题导致第二个孩子没有进步。