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Do Socioeconomic Differences in Family Size Reflect Cultural Differences in Confidence and Social Support for Parenting?

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Abstract

This article details family size differences by socio-economic area in metropolitan South Australia and suggests that these differences may be linked to cultural differences in parenting confidence and skills, and in social supports for parenting. The paper analyses Census data on average completed family size and family size distribution in six different areas. In all age groups this shows a negative correlation between family size and the socio-economic status of the area. Secondly, based on analysis of interview data with 38 mothers and 24 fathers and a small survey of 44 parents-to-be, the article suggests that the quantitative patterns may partly reflect differences in the proportions of people in each area who see being parents and having larger families as desirable and achievable undertakings for which they have the requisite personal skills and social supports to minimise adverse impacts on their own parental health and lifestyle. The article concludes by hypothesising that differential fertility levels between groups or areas partly reflect differences in levels of confidence, skills and social support for parenting, and that a cultural “crisis in parenthood” as well as a greater focus on intensive parenting may be more widespread in higher status groups which is reflected in their lower fertility.

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Notes

  1. Characteristics of the Study Areas

    Area highest status A—Old-established inner metropolitan area with some of the most prestigious suburbs of Adelaide, 5 to 10 km (or 5 to 10 min drive) from the Central Business District (CBD). Gently sloping land with quiet and wide leafy streets, large grand houses on large blocks of land, many from colonial times. Large percentage of people with household incomes three or more times the average household income for Adelaide (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2002b), and with university qualifications, in professional occupations, and in home ownership.

    Area highest status B—Similar characteristics to Highest A, but almost adjacent to the CBD and with a higher concentration of high-income professional couples with no children.

    Area upper-middle status—A middle-outer area on undulating land, approximately 15 to 20 km or (15 to 20 min drive) from the CBD. Quiet, leafy streetscapes of native vegetation, narrow or no footpaths, average-sized homes on medium blocks, often built up to 25 years ago. Large percentages of people with household incomes 1½ to 2½ times the Adelaide average, and with post-school qualifications, often in professional, administrative or technical occupations. High levels of home ownership.

    Area lower-middle status—Another middle-outer area approximately 20–25 km (or 25 min drive) from the CBD but close to large suburban shopping centres. Streetscapes of native vegetation, average-sized family homes on medium blocks in newer residential estates with a prevalence of “rooftops and roads”. Large percentage of people with household incomes around the metropolitan average, in clerical/service/trades occupations with trade qualifications, school-only qualifications, or no qualifications. High percentage of households with newer home loans and one of the highest percentage of mothers in the workforce in Adelaide.

    Area lowest status A—An outer suburban area 40 km (or 30 to 40 min drive) from the CBD. Mixed area of residential and light industrial zoning. Houses average-sized family homes on medium-sized blocks plus older-style public rental housing. Wide streets with footpaths plus some unoccupied open land. Large percentages of people with household incomes half the Adelaide average or solely reliant on government payments. High proportions with no qualifications, school-only qualifications or trade qualifications, higher representation of single parent households and the unemployed, and higher levels of rented properties.

    Area lowest status B—Similar to lower status area A, but with a weaker concentration of disadvantage and poverty, and incomes somewhat higher, but nevertheless still a designated area “of aggregated disadvantage”.

  2. The marketing department of the private health care organisation Adelaide Community Healthcare Alliance (ACHA) held Preconception Seminars for the general public from late 2001. Attendance was $30 per couple for two 3-h sessions and over 80 people attended the first seminar. The author was invited to talk on “The costs of raising children” at seminars in May, August and October 2002. The opportunity was taken to invite the 108 attendees to take home a questionnaire on fertility and family size. 79 took forms and 45 were returned (42%). 50% completed evaluation forms for the organisers. Despite their success, new management in November 2002 took a “strategic decision” to lay off staff and cease the seminars.

  3. The age group 40–44 years was selected as the focus for this analysis on the assumption that most women of this age would have already completed their childbearing. However the interviews suggest 50–54 as a better category for estimating completed fertility, particularly in an era where the decimal points of fertility change are given significance and increasing numbers of women are having first or subsequent children at age 40 or older.

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    Lareen A. Newman

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Newman, L.A. Do Socioeconomic Differences in Family Size Reflect Cultural Differences in Confidence and Social Support for Parenting?. Popul Res Policy Rev 28, 661–691 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11113-008-9124-3

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