Table 1

Potential pathways linking demographic change with kin availability and reproduction during the U.S. demographic transition

Demographic ContextExpected Impact on Kin Availability and Potential Kin Assistance for G2 Couples Relative to G1 CouplesExpected Impact on the Reproduction of G2 Couples
Declining Fertility Increases the potential support from and interaction with parents, as each G2 couple has fewer siblings competing for parents' support and assistance Positive 
Declining Fertility Decreases the potential support from and interaction with G1 aunts, uncles, and other G1 kin, as G1 parents have fewer siblings, cousins, and other G1 kin to assist with subsequent generation Negative 
Declining Fertility Decreases the potential support from and interaction with G2 siblings and cousins, as each G2 couple has fewer siblings, cousins, and other G2 kin Negative 
Declining Mean Age at Childbearing G1 parents and other G1 kin will be younger at birth of G3, allowing G1 to have more healthy years of life expectancy overlapping with G3 Positive 
Declining Mortality More G1 parents will survive their childbearing years, increasing the number of G2 born, which in turn increases the number of G2 siblings competing for G1 parents' support and assistance Negative 
Declining Mortality More G2 will survive to their childbearing years, increasing the number of siblings competing for G1 parents' support and assistance Negative 
Declining Mortality More G1 parents will survive to the birth of G3 Positive 
Increasing Migration Increased migration in G1 and G2 decreases the chances G2 will live in an area with high numbers of G1 and G2 kin, which in turn decreases the potential support from and interaction with G1 and G2 kin Negative 
Demographic ContextExpected Impact on Kin Availability and Potential Kin Assistance for G2 Couples Relative to G1 CouplesExpected Impact on the Reproduction of G2 Couples
Declining Fertility Increases the potential support from and interaction with parents, as each G2 couple has fewer siblings competing for parents' support and assistance Positive 
Declining Fertility Decreases the potential support from and interaction with G1 aunts, uncles, and other G1 kin, as G1 parents have fewer siblings, cousins, and other G1 kin to assist with subsequent generation Negative 
Declining Fertility Decreases the potential support from and interaction with G2 siblings and cousins, as each G2 couple has fewer siblings, cousins, and other G2 kin Negative 
Declining Mean Age at Childbearing G1 parents and other G1 kin will be younger at birth of G3, allowing G1 to have more healthy years of life expectancy overlapping with G3 Positive 
Declining Mortality More G1 parents will survive their childbearing years, increasing the number of G2 born, which in turn increases the number of G2 siblings competing for G1 parents' support and assistance Negative 
Declining Mortality More G2 will survive to their childbearing years, increasing the number of siblings competing for G1 parents' support and assistance Negative 
Declining Mortality More G1 parents will survive to the birth of G3 Positive 
Increasing Migration Increased migration in G1 and G2 decreases the chances G2 will live in an area with high numbers of G1 and G2 kin, which in turn decreases the potential support from and interaction with G1 and G2 kin Negative 

Notes: Expected impacts are based on assumed changes in fertility, mean age at childbearing, mortality, and migration during the U.S. demographic transition, beginning between generations G0 and G1 and continuing to generations G2 and G3. A positive impact on reproduction in G2 is the assumed combined result of increased fertility and reduced child mortality associated with greater kin availability, relative to generation G1. A negative impact on reproduction in G2 is the assumed combined impact of decreased fertility and increased child mortality associated with lower kin availability relative to generation G1.

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