The timing of abortions, births, and union dissolutions in Finland

<b>Background</b>: People make fertility decisions within the wider context of their lives. Previous studies have shown that there are factors that drive both relationship transitions and childbearing decisions. However, there is a lack of research on whether these factors also drive abo...

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Main Author: Heini Väisänen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research 2017-10-01
Series:Demographic Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol37/28/
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author Heini Väisänen
author_facet Heini Väisänen
author_sort Heini Väisänen
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background</b>: People make fertility decisions within the wider context of their lives. Previous studies have shown that there are factors that drive both relationship transitions and childbearing decisions. However, there is a lack of research on whether these factors also drive abortion decisions and decisions to end a romantic relationship, and whether their effect depends on being in a cohabitating or marital union. <b>Objective</b>: To study whether the factors that influence relationship transitions and childbearing decisions are also associated with abortion decision-making. <b>Methods</b>: I analysed nationally representative register data of Finnish women born in 1965-1969 (N=17,666) using multi-level multi-process event history models. <b>Results</b>: Women's unobserved characteristics affected union dissolution, abortion, and childbearing decisions: Women with a tendency towards unstable relationships were more likely to have an abortion and less likely to give birth. The observed likelihood of abortion was lower for married than cohabiting women in the early years of a relationship, but became similar over time. <b>Conclusions</b>: Characteristics such as personality and religiosity may partly explain these results. In line with previous research on other union characteristics, the likelihood of abortion in long-term cohabitation becomes similar to marriage over time. <b>Contribution</b>: This study is the first to jointly estimate these three decision-making processes using reliable longitudinal data.
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spelling doaj.art-d7b04e6edb3a4e5db4a6fb6f0bc3ca472022-12-21T18:49:19ZengMax Planck Institute for Demographic ResearchDemographic Research1435-98712017-10-01372810.4054/DemRes.2017.37.283607The timing of abortions, births, and union dissolutions in FinlandHeini Väisänen0University of Southampton<b>Background</b>: People make fertility decisions within the wider context of their lives. Previous studies have shown that there are factors that drive both relationship transitions and childbearing decisions. However, there is a lack of research on whether these factors also drive abortion decisions and decisions to end a romantic relationship, and whether their effect depends on being in a cohabitating or marital union. <b>Objective</b>: To study whether the factors that influence relationship transitions and childbearing decisions are also associated with abortion decision-making. <b>Methods</b>: I analysed nationally representative register data of Finnish women born in 1965-1969 (N=17,666) using multi-level multi-process event history models. <b>Results</b>: Women's unobserved characteristics affected union dissolution, abortion, and childbearing decisions: Women with a tendency towards unstable relationships were more likely to have an abortion and less likely to give birth. The observed likelihood of abortion was lower for married than cohabiting women in the early years of a relationship, but became similar over time. <b>Conclusions</b>: Characteristics such as personality and religiosity may partly explain these results. In line with previous research on other union characteristics, the likelihood of abortion in long-term cohabitation becomes similar to marriage over time. <b>Contribution</b>: This study is the first to jointly estimate these three decision-making processes using reliable longitudinal data.https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol37/28/fertility behaviorFinlandinduced abortionmultiprocess modelregistry dataunion dissolution
spellingShingle Heini Väisänen
The timing of abortions, births, and union dissolutions in Finland
Demographic Research
fertility behavior
Finland
induced abortion
multiprocess model
registry data
union dissolution
title The timing of abortions, births, and union dissolutions in Finland
title_full The timing of abortions, births, and union dissolutions in Finland
title_fullStr The timing of abortions, births, and union dissolutions in Finland
title_full_unstemmed The timing of abortions, births, and union dissolutions in Finland
title_short The timing of abortions, births, and union dissolutions in Finland
title_sort timing of abortions births and union dissolutions in finland
topic fertility behavior
Finland
induced abortion
multiprocess model
registry data
union dissolution
url https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol37/28/
work_keys_str_mv AT heinivaisanen thetimingofabortionsbirthsanduniondissolutionsinfinland
AT heinivaisanen timingofabortionsbirthsanduniondissolutionsinfinland