The effect of illegitimacy on U.S. general fertility rates and population growth

Abstract

Illegitimacy and bridal pregnancy has attracted the attention of scholars concerned with a variety of plausible causes and consequences ofbirths conceived out of wedlock. Sociologists have expressed concern with the impact of such births on maternal and child health, family stability and the economic status offamilies. Although demographers have described trends in various populations, and have occasionally suggested that births conceived out of wedlock influence general fertility rates and cohort fertility, measures of the demographic impact of illegitimate or premaritally conceived births have not been assessed. While it seems obvious that a change in births conceived out of wedlock will affect change in a general fertility rate, this finding would not automatically allow the conclusion that cohort fertility would change because a change in the rate of births conceived out of wedlock occurred.

This investigation was supported by U.S. Public Health Service Grant 15567 and the Commission on Population Growth and the American Future.

This investigation was supported by U.S. Public Health Service Grant 15567 and the Commission on Population Growth and the American Future.

Notes

This investigation was supported by U.S. Public Health Service Grant 15567 and the Commission on Population Growth and the American Future.