Normative Timetables of Partnership, Marriage, Parenthood and Retirement in Contemporary Europe

Mengni Chen , University of Copenhagen
Yu-Chin Her, University of Copenhagen

In contemporary Europe, important life events like parental home leaving, marriage, parenthood, and retirement are undergoing substantial delays. The magnitude of postponement varies not only among different socioeconomic groups within a country but also across different countries. The shift in timing may reflect evolving social norms regarding these life events. Unlike previous research that often focused on the age norms of a certain life event solely, our study takes a comprehensive life course perspective, examining the normative timing of multiple events, including cohabitation, marriage, parenthood, and retirement. We aim to address two research questions: 1) “What is the normative timetable for these life events?” and 2) “How does the normative timetable vary across different socioeconomic groups and different countries?” To shed light on this, we draw upon theories of Second Demographic Transition, economic uncertainty and social welfare. Our primary data source is the 2018 European Social Survey, which includes a module on the actual and normative timing of life events. Employing a latent class analysis, we will identify the patterns in normative timing of partnership, marriage, parenthood and retirement. Subsequently, we will conduct a multilevel analysis to explore the individual and country-level factors associated with these patterns. The findings will present an updated portrayal of normative timetable for key life events across Europe. By exploring variations within and between countries, we contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex family and population dynamics in Europe.

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 Presented in Session 66. Transition to Adulthood, and Beyond