Pop digests

PopDigests

PopDigests are short, comprehensive summaries of research results with a link to the original publication (if accessible online). This allows population experts and other interested audiences to be able to easily access information to the latest research results. 

School Progress of Children is not Affected by Having Same-Sex Parents

School Progress of Children is not Affected by Having Same-Sex Parents

The largest and most up-to-date study performed so far shows that the school progress of children with parents of the same sex does not differ from their peers in the United States today. This study, published in the leading journal Demography, also provides large-scale evidence that children adopted by same-sex parents do as well as children adopted by different-sex parents.

The largest and most up-to-date study performed so far shows that the school progress of children with parents of the same sex does not differ from their peers in the United States today.

Happy People Have More Babies

Happy People Have More Babies

Having children requires a lot of energy and investment. But even in countries where contraceptives are readily available and widespread, where childbearing has become optional and financially expensive, and where there are significant compromises in terms of careers and other life goals, childbearing is not "out of fashion".

Researchers tested the hypothesis that higher life satisfaction promotes reproductive behaviour. They argue that people who are satisfied with their overall life feel better prepared to begin raising children.

The Determinants of Fathers’ Parental Leave Use

The Determinants of Fathers’ Parental Leave Use

The use of parental leave by fathers notably varies between countries. However, the underlying reasons for cross-country differences have not been explicitly studied. In a recent article, researchers Eleonora Mussino, Jussi Tervola and Ann-Zofie Duvander used migration between Finland and Sweden as an instrument to deconstruct the roles of policy design and social norms in the differences in take-up rates between these two countries.

The use of parental leave by fathers notably varies between countries. However, the underlying reasons for cross-country differences have not been explicitly studied. 

Ageing Alone and Coping Strategies

Ageing Alone and Coping Strategies

Researchers Nina Conkova, Julie Vullnetari, Russell King, and Tineke Fokkema explored and compared older adults’ lived experiences and coping strategies in two postcommunist countries: Albania and Bulgaria.

Researchers Nina Conkova, Julie Vullnetari, Russell King, and Tineke Fokkema explored and compared older adults’ lived experiences and coping strategies in two postcommunist countries: Albania and Bulgaria.

Could a Basic Income Challenge Gender Equality?

Could a Basic Income Challenge Gender Equality?

The discussion about basic income as a social benefit has been discussed frequently and worldwide in the last few years. A new article by researchers Alison Koslowski and Ann-Zofie Duvander addresses the question, how a basic income might contribute to a change in gendered behaviour. The authors discuss the idea of a basic income from a perspective of gender equality in the Swedish context, where family policies have already led to high levels of female labour force participation and gender equality.

The discussion about basic income as a social benefit has been discussed frequently and worldwide in the last few years. A new article by researchers Alison Koslowski and Ann-Zofie Duvander addresses the question, how a basic income might contribute to a change in gendered behaviour. 

Will Our Children Live More Equally?

Will Our Children Live More Equally?

“Being a role-model” is said to be one of the most important parts of parenting. So, if we live in an egalitarian relationship, where paid and unpaid work are shared in equal parts, will our children take over these habits?

“Being a role-model” is said to be one of the most important parts of parenting. So, if we live in an egalitarian relationship, where paid and unpaid work are shared in equal parts, will our children take over these habits?

The Use of WhatsApp to Predict Demographic Characteristics

The Use of WhatsApp to Predict Demographic Characteristics

WhatsApp is currently the most popular messaging application with the largest name recognition, by far the largest user base, and the strongest corporate backing since its acquisition by Facebook in 2014. It allows people to easily share texts, pictures and audio files.

WhatsApp is currently the most popular messaging application with the largest name recognition, by far the largest user base, and the strongest corporate backing since its acquisition by Facebook in 2014. It allows people to easily share texts, pictures and audio files.

Equality Often Ends with the Birth of the First Child

Equality Often Ends with the Birth of the First Child

Can couples who equally share domestic work maintain their egalitarian ways after the birth of their first child? And how is subjective satisfaction with work-life balance related to equal arrangements? Researchers María José González, Irene Lapuerta, Teresa Martín-García and Marta Seiz recently published a study analysing 31 dual-earner couples in Spain who had practiced an egalitarian division of household tasks during pregnancy.

Can couples who equally share domestic work maintain their egalitarian ways after the birth of their first child? And how is subjective satisfaction with work-life balance related to equal arrangements?

Ethnicity and Grandparental Child Care in the United Kingdom

Ethnicity and Grandparental Child Care in the United Kingdom

Caring for one's grandchildren has become a more common experience for individuals partly as a result of a longer overlap between the lives of grandparents and their grandchildren. Existing research shows that around 50 per cent of grandparents engage in some grandparental child care in most European countries, however, this proportion is higher among older people with a migrant background, partly due to greater economic necessity among migrant families.

Caring for one's grandchildren has become a more common experience for individuals partly as a result of a longer overlap between the lives of grandparents and their grandchildren.