Introduction
Trends in nonmarital childbearing in the U. S. have increased steadily since 1970 for non-Hispanic white, Black, Hispanic, and Asian women across all age groups (Wildsmith, Steward-Streng, and Manlove, 2011). Windsmith et al (2011) stated that the rise in the number of children being born outside of marriage among all ethnic and age groups is linked to the increase in cohabitation. Delays in marriage have increased nonmarital birth rates; the median age at first marriage is 26 years for women with the median age for first birth being 25 years (Wildsmith, Berger, Manlove, Barry, McCoy-Roth, 2012).
A review of previous studies and literature indicates a need to look at the relationship between nonmarital childbirth and delays in marrying and the increase in cohabitation. Statement of the Problem The increase in nonmarital births over the last 40 years, relates to the decline in marriage and an increase in couples cohabiting. Increases in nonmarital births results from many factors, including substantial delays in marriage (Ventura, 2009). Out of wedlock, childbearing has increased among all women of reproductive age and among all racial and ethnical groups in our population (Ventura, Bachrach, Hill, Kaye, Holcomb, & Koff,, 1995).
Nonmarital childbearing is not synonymous with single parenting; much of the increase in nonmarital births across all countries is attributed to changes in cohabitation (Manlove, Ryan, Wildsmith, & Franzetta, 2010). The percentage of nonmarital births occurring to cohabiting couples increased from 29 percent in the early 1980s to 39 percent in the early 1990s and more recent estimates suggest almost 50 percent of nonmarital births for the early 2000s (Manlove, Ryan, Wildsmith, & Franzetta, 2010).
Most nonmarital births occur to women in their twenties, and less than one in three occur to teenagers (Ventura et al, 1995). Ventura et al (1995) stated that 72 percent of births to teenagers are out of wedlock. Literature Review During the last four decades, there has been a dramatic change in the context of childbearing and family formation. Having children outside the marriage, nonmarital childbearing, has been on the rise across several decades in the United States. Since the 1970s the total birth rates have changed very little, increasing only modestly for whites and very little for blacks.
However, the birth rates for unmarried women have increased significantly for the same period (Gray, Stockard, & Stone, 2006). A decline in the numbers of women who choose to marry has caused a increase in the number of unmarried births and an increase in the percentage of married births. Gray, Stockard, & Stone (2006) explained that when the proportion of women who are married decreases and the share of unmarried women correspondingly increase, the average birth rates for both married and unmarried women rise.
Gray et al (2006) concluded that the soaring rate of nonmarital to total births has arisen primarily from changes in marriage behavior. More than half of nonmarital births occur within cohabiting unions; this percentage is increasing across all racial/ ethnical groups (Manlove, Ryan, Wildsmith, & Franzetta, 2010). Manlove et al (2010) stated that for whites and Hispanics a decrease in the number of children born to married couples has decreased, while for blacks it represents a decline in the percentage of children born to non-coresidential parents.
In 2009 41 percent of all births occurred outside of marriage, compared with 28 percent of all births in 1990, and 11 percent of all births in 1970 (Wildsmith, Steward-Streng, & Manlove, 2011). The percentage of nonmarital births rose steadily from 1970 to 2009 for all age groups. Women in the twenties have the highest rate of nonmarital births. Wildsmith, Steward-Streng & Manlove (2011) found that 38 percent of all nonmarital births are to women aged 20-24 and 24 percent of all nonmarital births are to women aged 24-29.
Since 1990, the percentage of births outside of marriage increased for all major racial and ethnic groups. Wildsmith et al (2011) found that in 1990, 17 percent of births to white women, 67 percent of births to black women, and 37 percent of births to Hispanic women were nonmarital while in 2009 , 29 percent of births to white women, 73 percent of births to black women, and 53 percent of births to Hispanic women were nonmarital. The increase in the number of children born outside of wedlock among all groups, white, black and Hispanic is linked to changes in cohabitation and family structure (Wildsmith et al, 2011).
The Ledwell (2013) study of 1986 women indicated that women with nonmarital births are significantly more likely to be black or Hispanic. Ledwell (2013) stated women who had nonmarital births were more likely to have less than a high school education, to have parents with less than a high school education or a high school education, and to come from a non-intact family compared to both women with marital births and women who had not given birth yet. Ledwell (2013) also stated that women with a nonmarital birth are significantly younger and are more likely to say that their birth was unintentional then women whose first birth is marital.
Upchurch, Lillard, & Panis (2002) also suggest confirmation of the differences in nonmarital births between white, black, and Hispanic women in a study. Black and Hispanic women have significantly higher risks of having nonmarital births than white women (Upchurch, Lillard, & Panis, 2002). Most nonmarital or out-of-wedlock births occur to women in their twenties, and less than one in three occur to teenagers (Ventura, Bachrach, Hill, Kaye, Holcomb, & Koff, 1995 & Sawhill, 2006).
Ventura et al (1995) stated that rates of nonmarital birth historically have been higher among black women compared to non-Hispanic white women, but the differences have narrowed the last three decades, and most out-of-wedlock births currently occur to non-Hispanic white women. The increases in nonmarital births result from many factors including substantial delays in marriage, changes in sexual activity, and changes in attitudes toward unmarried mothers (Ventura, 2009).
Delays in marriage have increased nonmarital birth rates; the median age at first marriage is 26 years for women with the median age for first birth being 25 years (Wildsmith, Berger, Manlove, Barry, McCoy-Roth, 2012). An increase in cohabitation has contributed to the increase in nonmarital birth. Over 50 percent of all nonmarital births occur to cohabitating couples (Wildsmith, Berger, Manlove, Barry, McCoy-Roth, 2012). The United States in not unique, nor does it outpace other countries in nonmarital childbearing. The recent births in France 55.
8 percent, Norway 55. 0 percent, Sweden 54. 3 percent, and Iceland 65. 0 percent were to unmarried women in 2011 (Anonymous, 2011). The proportions of nonmarital births in the United States are higher than in some industrialized countries, for example, 7. 4 percent of births in Greece are to unmarried women, 23. 4 percent of births in Italy are to unmarried women, and 19. 3 percent of births in Switzerland are to unmarried women (Anonymous, 2011). Increasing nonmarital childbearing is a fact in most industrialized nations today.
Sweden and Denmark have a higher proportion of babies born outside of marriage than the United States; Canada, Great Britain, and France have similar proportions; and Japan and the Netherlands have a lower proportion (Ventura et al, 1995 & Kiernan, 2004). In all countries but Japan, the proportion of babies born outside of marriage has been increasing (Ventura et al, 1995). Results Childbearing by unmarried women declined in 2010 for the second year in a row. The number of nonmarital births declined by 4 percent in 2010 to 1,633,471 from 1,693,658 in 2009. The numbers had peaked in 2008 at 1,726,566.
The percentage of birth that are nonmarital for 2010 is 40. 8 percent. The birth rate declined 5 percent from 2009 to 2010 to 47. 6 births per 1000 unmarried women aged 15-44. The birth rates for age groups 15-19 through 30-34 declined significantly in 2010. For 2010, 40. 8 percent of all births were to unmarried women. Table 1 shows percentages of nonmarital births by mother’s age. Nonmarital births among teenagers represented 28 percent. Table 1. Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Birth: Final Data for 2010, National Vital Statistics Report 61 (1).
Under age 20 28%, Age 20-29 56%, Over age 30 16%. The nonmarital rates declined for all races and Hispanic origin population groups. The rate for white females fell 2 percent to 32. 9 per 1000 births. Rates for black women fell 5 percent to 65. 3 per 1000. The rate for Hispanic women fell 10 percent to 80. 6 per 1000 births. Since peaking in 2007 at 102. 1 per 1000 births, the nonmarital birth rate for Hispanic women has declined over 20 percent. A majority of children born outside of marriage are born into families headed by two unmarried parents.
The analysis indicates an increase in the proportions of nonmarital births to women in cohabiting relationships, rising from 28 percent of births in 1980-1984 to 40 percent of births in 1998-2002 to 58 percent in 2010. Table 2 shows the percentages of unmarried mothers in cohabiting relationships based on racial/ ethnical groups. The number of children born outside of marriage among all groups is linked to the broader changes in family structure, most notably cohabitation. More than one-half of the nonmarital births are to couples who live together in one household, but are not legally married.
Table 2. Source: Child Trends analyses of Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort The rate of nonmarital birth appears to be leveling at around 40 percent of all births. However, the overall increase in the percentage of nonmarital births over the past 40 years in the nonmarital birth rate and the percentage of births outside marriage indicates a dramatic change in childbearing in the United States. With the percentage of cohabiting couples over 50% the indication for strong family structure still exists. Conclusion
From 1980 to 2010, the increase in nonmarital births changed from 665,747 births to 1,633,471 births. The percent of nonmarital births increased from 18. 4 births to 40. 8 births. The changes represent a change in marriage rates, cohabiting rates, and changes in acceptance of unmarried mothers. Cohabitation is a step in the direction marriage for some mothers, but not all couples with stay together. More than half of nonmarital births occur within cohabiting unions; this percentage is increasing across all racial/ ethnical groups (Manlove, Ryan, Wildsmith, & Franzetta, 2010).
The relationship between nonmarital childbirth and the increase in cohabitation is significant. The research indicates the trend of cohabitating will continue. More research is needed to determine to cause or reason behind the increase in cohabitation compared to marriage in couples. References Gray, J. A. , Stockard, J. & Stone, J. (2006). The rising share of nonmarital births: Fertility choice or marriage behavior? Demography 43(2) 241-253 Kiernan, K. (2004). Unmarried cohabitation and parenthood in Britain and Europe. Law & Policy, 26(1), 33-55 Ledwell, M. (n.
d. ) Factors influencing the context of non-marital childbearing. Unpublished manuscript. Pennsylvania State University Live births outside marriage. (2011). Retrieved from European Commission website http://epp. eurostat. ec. europa. eu/tgm/table. do? tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=tps00018&plugin=0 Manlove, J. , Ryan, S. , Wildsmith, E. , & Franzetta, K. (2010). The relationship context of nonmarital childbearing in the U. S. Demographic Research 23 (22), 615-654 Martin, J. , Hamilton, B. , Ventura, S. , Osterman, M. , Wilson, E. , & Mathews, T. J. (2012).
Births: Final data for 2010. National Vital Statistucs Reports 61 (1). U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control; and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System. Sawhill, I. (2006) Teenage sex, pregnancy, and nonmarital births. Gender Issues, 23(4), 48-59 Upchurch, D. , Lilliard, L. & Panis, C. (2002). Nonmarital childbearing: Influence of education, marriage, and fertility. Demography 39 (2), 311-329 Ventura, S. (2009). Changing patterns of nonmarital childbearing in the United States. U. S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control; and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (DHHS Publication No. (PHS) 2009-1209). Retrieved from http://www. cdc. gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db18. htm Ventura, S. , Bachrach, C. , Hill, L. , Kaye, K. , Holcomb, P. , & Koff, E. (1995) The demography of out-of-wedlock childbearing. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Center for Disease Control; and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (DHHS Publication No. (PHS) 95-1257). Retrieved from http://www. cdc.
gov/nchs/data/misc/wedlock. pdf Wildsmith, E. , Steward-Streng, N. , & Manlove, J. (2011 Nov). Childbearing outside of marriage: Estimates and trends in the United States. Child Trends. Retrieved from Child Trends website http://childtrends. org/? publications=childbearing-outside-of-marriage-estimates-and-trends-in-the-united-states Wildsmith, E. , Berger, A. , Manlove, A. , Barry, M. , & McCoy-Roth, M. (2012). Data snapshot: Non-marital births to women under age 30. Child Trends. Retrieved from Child Trends website http://www. childtrends. org/data-snapshot-nonmarital-births-to-women-under-30/
