The diversity in longitudinal partnership trajectories during the transition to adulthood: How is it related to individual characteristics and regional living conditions?

<b>Background</b>: Previous research has concentrated on the quantum and timing of partnership statuses during the transition to adulthood, but it has however remained unclear how partnership trajectories unfold and how trajectories interdepend. It is furthermore unknown how individual c...

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Main Author: Barbara E. Fulda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research 2016-10-01
Series:Demographic Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol35/37/
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author Barbara E. Fulda
author_facet Barbara E. Fulda
author_sort Barbara E. Fulda
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background</b>: Previous research has concentrated on the quantum and timing of partnership statuses during the transition to adulthood, but it has however remained unclear how partnership trajectories unfold and how trajectories interdepend. It is furthermore unknown how individual characteristics and regional living conditions relate to the type of partnership trajectory an individual experiences. <b>Objective</b>: By studying longitudinal partnership trajectories in a sequence analysis, this article examines the types of partnership trajectories that are observable between the ages of 15 and 40. It furthermore asks how individual characteristics and regional living conditions relate to the sequencing, timing, and quantum of partnership transitions. It finally shows how the turbulence in partnership trajectories relates to these factors. <b>Methods</b>: I analyze the 1971-1973 birth cohort in the German Family Panel (pairfam). <b>Results</b>: Partnership trajectories split up into four patterns. Educational level, gender, and ethnic background significantly influence the probability of experiencing one of these partnership trajectories. Urban residents experience greater diversity in partnership statuses and are single for longer periods than rural residents. Twenty-six years after Germany's unification, socialization in eastern or western Germany still matters: Eastern Germans are more likely than western Germans to remain in a cohabitation until they are 40. <b>Contribution</b>: This article presents novel evidence on the typical partnership trajectories of a recent cohort. It shows that partnership histories are closely linked to membership in a social group and socialization in an institutional setting. Only some social groups are prone to experiencing turbulent partnership histories.
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spelling doaj.art-61dd3e64a9d449bf8aa5ba45aa6dda622022-12-22T02:51:05ZengMax Planck Institute for Demographic ResearchDemographic Research1435-98712016-10-01353710.4054/DemRes.2016.35.373298The diversity in longitudinal partnership trajectories during the transition to adulthood: How is it related to individual characteristics and regional living conditions?Barbara E. Fulda0Technische Universit&#xe4;t Chemnitz<b>Background</b>: Previous research has concentrated on the quantum and timing of partnership statuses during the transition to adulthood, but it has however remained unclear how partnership trajectories unfold and how trajectories interdepend. It is furthermore unknown how individual characteristics and regional living conditions relate to the type of partnership trajectory an individual experiences. <b>Objective</b>: By studying longitudinal partnership trajectories in a sequence analysis, this article examines the types of partnership trajectories that are observable between the ages of 15 and 40. It furthermore asks how individual characteristics and regional living conditions relate to the sequencing, timing, and quantum of partnership transitions. It finally shows how the turbulence in partnership trajectories relates to these factors. <b>Methods</b>: I analyze the 1971-1973 birth cohort in the German Family Panel (pairfam). <b>Results</b>: Partnership trajectories split up into four patterns. Educational level, gender, and ethnic background significantly influence the probability of experiencing one of these partnership trajectories. Urban residents experience greater diversity in partnership statuses and are single for longer periods than rural residents. Twenty-six years after Germany's unification, socialization in eastern or western Germany still matters: Eastern Germans are more likely than western Germans to remain in a cohabitation until they are 40. <b>Contribution</b>: This article presents novel evidence on the typical partnership trajectories of a recent cohort. It shows that partnership histories are closely linked to membership in a social group and socialization in an institutional setting. Only some social groups are prone to experiencing turbulent partnership histories.https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol35/37/clustersGerman Family Panel pairfam (Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics)Germanypartnership historyquantumsequence analysistimingtransition to adulthood
spellingShingle Barbara E. Fulda
The diversity in longitudinal partnership trajectories during the transition to adulthood: How is it related to individual characteristics and regional living conditions?
Demographic Research
clusters
German Family Panel pairfam (Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics)
Germany
partnership history
quantum
sequence analysis
timing
transition to adulthood
title The diversity in longitudinal partnership trajectories during the transition to adulthood: How is it related to individual characteristics and regional living conditions?
title_full The diversity in longitudinal partnership trajectories during the transition to adulthood: How is it related to individual characteristics and regional living conditions?
title_fullStr The diversity in longitudinal partnership trajectories during the transition to adulthood: How is it related to individual characteristics and regional living conditions?
title_full_unstemmed The diversity in longitudinal partnership trajectories during the transition to adulthood: How is it related to individual characteristics and regional living conditions?
title_short The diversity in longitudinal partnership trajectories during the transition to adulthood: How is it related to individual characteristics and regional living conditions?
title_sort diversity in longitudinal partnership trajectories during the transition to adulthood how is it related to individual characteristics and regional living conditions
topic clusters
German Family Panel pairfam (Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics)
Germany
partnership history
quantum
sequence analysis
timing
transition to adulthood
url https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol35/37/
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