The Family Context of Adulthood Transitions in Mexico

Federica Becca , Center for Demographic Studies
Albert Esteve, Center for Demographic Studies (Barcelona)

Contrary to expectations in Western societies, family transitions to adulthood in Mexico, such as forming unions and having children, often occur within the parental home or in extended families (any extension of the immediate family). Using retrospective data from the 2017 Retrospective Demographic Survey (EDER) for cohorts born between 1962 and 1987 (N=13996), this study explores the family context of Mexican family transitions to adulthood (i.e. union formation, childbearing, solo parenting). We look at the first year ego starts cohabiting with a partner, with or without children, or with children as a single parent, and whether these events occur within an extended family. Around 45% of women and 35% of men aged 15 to 30 transition to first union, child, or single parenthood within an extended household. Among these, ~ 90% of individuals came from a nuclear family the previous year, suggesting that complex living arrangements may be a strategy for facilitating family transitions. Logistic regression models uncover a higher likelihood of experiencing a family transition in a complex household among females, younger individuals, and those from lower socioeconomic classes. Further research should outline the temporal or enduring nature of extended living arrangements, while also examining the family context of the elderly through longitudinal analysis.

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 Presented in Session 66. Transition to Adulthood, and Beyond