Sequencing of Births by Wantedness: Implications for Changes in Mid-Life Health Among Aging NLSY79 Women.
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
; 78(11): 1881-1891, 2023 11 14.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37526336
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
As life course frameworks highlight and gerontological studies confirm, the health implications of early birth timing (e.g., adolescent births) and unplanned births (e.g., unwanted or mistimed births) extend years after those births into mid and later life. Yet past research often overlooks the considerable diversity in sequencing and timing of unplanned births even within the same individual (e.g., having both wanted and unwanted births), which are likely fundamental for women's long-term health trajectories. We develop a holistic understanding of birth timing and wantedness to provide insight into when and how childbearing histories matter for aging women's health.METHODS:
We use sequence analysis with hierarchical cluster method and estimate regression models using the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (Nâ =â 3,231) to examine how timing and patterning of births by wantedness are associated with changes in physical and mental health from ages 40 to 50.RESULTS:
We identify 7 clusters of childbearing sequences. Of those 7 clusters, respondents with sequences characterized by wanted births in their 20s and 30s had the smallest declines in health in mid-life, whereas respondents with sequences with mainly unwanted births at any age or with mainly mistimed births beginning in adolescence had the greatest health declines. Adjusting for social and economic variables accounted for some, but not all, health differences across childbearing clusters.DISCUSSION:
This project demonstrates the need for comprehensive life course perspectives on long-term health implications of birth wantedness and timing, recognizing diversity within and between individuals.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Gravidez não Desejada
/
Envelhecimento
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
Assunto da revista:
CIENCIAS SOCIAIS
/
GERIATRIA
/
PSICOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos