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Patterns of marriage among the aboriginal population of Australia are investigated. The author attempts to determine "the economic significance of a method of family formation in which child-bearing is an essential component of the process....[and discusses the impact of] change in the micro-economies of Aboriginal households and families." Probabilities of change in marital status are also considered. Data are from the 1981 census.
Data for a sample of 50 developing countries are analysed to investigate the social correlates of the teenage birth rate. Of five major factors considered as predictors of national birth rates (socioeconomic development, family planning programmes, women's status, the sex ratio, and marriage patterns), regression analyses reveal that only the average age at marriage for women has a significant effect on the teenage birth rate. In contrast, all variables except the sex ratio and the average age at marriage for women have a significant effect on the total fertility rate.
We used 1990 census data to examine differences in the current living arrangements of minority elderly. We found that differences among the minority populations in age, sex, and marital status account for only a small part of the observed differences in living arrangements. However, while minority groups as a whole differ substantially from the White population, national ethnic patterns within groups appear to be relatively small. Hispanic ethnic groups vary little once differences in marriage patterns are taken into account, although differences are greater within the Asian population.
We have studied the marriage pattern and reproductive behaviour in a single Central Indian primitive tribe, the Baiga. Parents were consanguineous in 34% of marriages (19.2% mother's brother's daughter (MBD), 13.1% father's sister's daughter (FSD) and 1.7% were double first cross-cousins (DFCC). Fertility levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in related couples (4.7 offspring/couple) than unrelated couples (4.2/couple). Mortality (up to 20 years) was 19%. In the offspring of consanguineous couples it was higher (19.7%) than in the offspring of unrelated couples (18.6%) but the difference was not statistically significant. In consanguineous couples the reproductive period was longer than in unrelated couples, probably to allow compensation for increased reproductive losses (infant and childhood deaths). The level of social as compared to genetic parenting was about 35% as measured by tracking the inheritance of sickle gene, and allowance must be made for this in assessing the influence of consanguineous marriage on fertility and mortality.
"The concept of 'social urbanization' is examined with reference to demographic, social, and cultural patterns in Caracas, Venezuela during the period 1870-1908. These patterns, responding to changes on the national and international level foreshadow, and in some cases are the beginnings of, present-day patterns. Changes in the relations between Caracas and the core states of Europe and North America are examined, as are significant changes in residence and marriage patterns." It is noted that "significant amounts of internal migration were occurring during this period, and it is suggested that structural linkages between Caracas and its surrounding hinterland were forged by the end of the nineteenth century. Finally, it is argued that 'social urbanization' is part of the wider global process of world-system transformation underway during the nineteenth century."
BACKGROUND: The study is part of a research project on the marital structure of mountain populations from the Eastern Italian Alps. Little is known about marriage patterns in this Alpine area. AIM: The aim of the study is to evaluate the extent of reproductive isolation in some communities of the Non Valley (Trentino, Italy) and to investigate its microgeographic and temporal changes over the period 1825-1923. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 4518 microfilmed marriage records from registers of seven parishes of the Non Valley were used to analyse the following: endogamy rate, inbreeding calculated both from dispensations and from isonymy, repeating pairs of surnames in marriages, isonymic relationships. RESULTS: The results show notable variability among parishes in the levels of endogamy (40-73%), inbreeding (alpha: 1.9-4.57; Ft: 0.0073-0.019) and subdivision (RPr/RP: 0.5-1.3). The values are relatively stable over the course of a century, apart from a rise in inbreeding indicated by dispensations and a slight decrease of endogamy at the beginning of the 20th century. Isonymic relationships reflect geographic proximity between populations, with minimum changes through time. CONCLUSIONS: Variations in the level of reproductive isolation within the Non Valley are consistent with the different geographic characteristics and population sizes of the settlements. Comparison with data obtained from previous studies in the Eastern Italian Alps shows that the values of the investigated biodemographic indicators are in line with the geography and altitude of the area. The slight differences in temporal trend of endogamy and inbreeding can be correlated with different migration patterns.
In this paper, we have traced changes in the patterns of first marriage in the United States for cohorts of men and women born in 1880 through 1965 and for the years from 1900 through 1983. There were striking changes in marriage rates associated with each of the world wars and with the depression of the 1930s. In addition to these short-term fluctuations, a long-term shift in marriage rates is observed over the period from after World War II until about 1970. By the end of the 1970s, however, marriage rates had returned to levels similar to those observed before the war. The basic similarity in the timing of changes in marriage rates across age levels and for both men and women, blacks and whites, is a striking characteristic of these marriage curves. There are also, however, important differences among these groups with respect to the magnitude and slopes of the shifts. The postwar marriage boom was strongest among the young (those under age 24) and among whites. Similarly, the declines in marriage rates observed in the 1970s were greatest among the young. The marriage rates for teenagers display trends that diverge in many respects from those of older persons. For example, the marriage rates of male teenagers did not show the "peaks" and "valley" associated with World War II for older age groups and female teenagers. Moreover, there is little sign of the postwar marriage boom among black teenagers of either sex. Indeed, the marriage rates of black teenagers began to decline soon after the war, and by the 1970s the marriage rates of both male and female black teenagers had fallen below those of their white counterparts, reversing the pattern that had existed through the first half of this century. During the twenty-five or so years of the postwar marriage boom, which we believe can be characterized best as a period phenomenon, there were trends-eddies within the mainstream-which are probably most easily interpreted as the consequence of a cohort effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATLL) is a distinct clinicopathologic entity etiologically linked to HTLV-I infection. We have identified five cases of retrovirus-associated ATLL among Hawaii-born first generation offspring (nisei) of migrant Japanese. Four patients were offspring of migrant Japanese (issei) who emigrated to Hawaii from Okinawa, an HTLV-I endemic area. The fifth patient was born of parents who emigrated to Hawaii from Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures, HTLV-I nonendemic areas. Epidemiologic implications and family studies with regard to HTLV-I antibody testing of the index cases are discussed. The high rate of HTLV-I antibody seropositivity among family members and relatives indicates that the risk of acquiring HTLV-I infection and of developing ATLL persists long after migration. Documentation of ATLL among offspring of Japanese immigrants to Hawaii is an important observation because it confirms the potential for long latency between putative exposure to virus and the development of overt disease. Changing marriage patterns among the Hawaii-Japanese may weaken the risk of vertical virus transmission to the descendents of migrants from southern Japan, while increasing the risk to children born of mixed marriages. In addition, blood products derived from high-risk donors will constitute a continuing hazard if they are not subject to screening.
The unique situation that the Norwegian 1891 census included information on consanguineous relation between spouses and that first admissions to psychiatric hospitals by diagnosis were available for the years 1921-40, formed the basis for the present study. There are similarities between the pattern of inbreeding and admission rates in our rural communities, but we were unable to demonstrate any significant correlation. This is interpreted as due to selective avoidance in the choice of a marriage partner, particularly between near relatives. Good neighbourhood knowledge was an important factor in our sparsely populated communities with a marriage pattern distinguished by extreme geographical proximity of residence of spouses. The considerably lower proportion of first cousin matings than expected among parents of psychiatric in-patients 1926-55, illustrates the lower psychiatric morbidity in offspring of consanguineous parentage. Admissions 1921-40 comprised only functional psychoses with a predominance of schizophrenia (greater than 80%), which today is diagnosed in less than 10%. A decline in incidence rate is not likely, whereas changing diagnostic practice is probably a main factor. The near disappearance of catatonia and hebephrenia could be related to the introduction of psychotropic drugs and the accompanying improvement in hospital treatment. The epidemiology of schizophrenia is unchanged with a significant excess in lower social classes. This could in part be due to schizophrenic phenocopies related to the unchanged social differential in infant mortality and morbidity (including a particular season of birth effect), in part to the prevalence of adverse environment postnatally. The considerably greater male marital differential has probably a social cause, whereas male earlier onset of disease and more severe course of the disease are discussed in relation to the new concept of progressive sexual brain differentiation.
Investigation of the commonality of surnames among the isles of Scilly using data covering the period from 1726 to the present, yields coefficients of relationship by isonymy which are compared with measures of relationship based on marital migration rates. The coefficients of relationship, calculated from lists of surnames in the marriage registers, and from lists of male surnames from the 1851 and 1871 censuses, are higher than any values yet reported for other British populations. However, the coefficient of relationship between the islands as a whole and the mainland of England and Wales is similar to the values reported for other English populations. Comparison of coefficients of relationship by marital isonymy show an overall decrease in the frequency of such marriages over time and a slight tendency to avoid marriages between close relatives. The lack of correlation between coefficients of relationship by random isonymy and marital migration rates derived from the census data is believed to be due to fluctuations in marriage patterns over time, the marital migration rates accounting for single generational patterns, while the coefficients of relationship by isonymy reflect the accumulated breeding structure. The chief influences on the coefficients of relationship appear to have been the founder effect, coupled with a long history of inter-island marriage but a high rate of endogamy from the islands as a whole.
In the United States, the baby boom-era pattern of high Catholic and low Protestant fertility has ended. Among non-Hispanic whites in the 1980s, Catholic total fertility rates (TFRs) were about one-quarter of a child lower than Protestant rates (1.64 vs. 1.91). Most of the Protestant-Catholic difference is related to later and less frequent marriage among Catholics. Future research on the demography of religious groups should focus on explaining the delayed marriage pattern of Catholics, the high fertility of Mormons and frequently attending Protestants, and the very low fertility of those with no religious affiliation.
Prior literature has shown that married men live longer than unmarried men. Possible explanations are that marriage protects its incumbents or that healthier men select themselves into marriage. Protective effects, however, introduce the possibility of adverse selection: Those in poor health have incentive to marry. In this paper we explore the role of health in explaining mortality and marriage patterns, and distinguish protective effects from two types of selection effects. We find adverse selection on the basis of health (unhealthy men tend to (re)marry sooner) and positive selection on the basis of unmeasured factors that both promote good health and encourage marriage.
The rapid increase in the number of unmarried cohabiting couples, indicated by recent evidence, is crucial to our understanding of changing marriage patterns. The levels and patterns of entry into cohabitation have been well documented over the last two decades, but little is known about the outcomes of nonmarital cohabitation. In this study we examine two competing outcomes of cohabitation relationships: union separation and legalization of the union through marriage. Our results show that the hazard rate of union dissolution is affected particularly by gender, fertility status, partner's marital status, religion, age at start of cohabitation, year cohabitation commenced, and region.
The marriages contracted between 1600 and 1850 in the parishes Vang and Slidre in the mountain valley of Valdres in Norway were investigated, using the information in the genealogical and local history of the parishes and in various public archives. The parishes functioned as a marriage isolate, in spite of regular communication with neighbouring districts. Only 54 of 4334 marriages were with residents outside the parishes, and marriages with a non-farming class (clergy) were as rare (47); 1130 marriages were probably between offspring of crofters and independent farmers. The further analysis concerns 3103 marriages contracted by the eldest sons and other heirs to 463 of the 493 farms, with members of the farming class within the parishes. Because of the linear settlement with clusters of same-named farms along both sides of the river, marital distance was measured by counting the number of farm-clusters (neighbourhood steps) between places of birth. In comparison with expectation when the marriage partner is chosen at random, marriages within the cluster occurred 13 times more frequently than expected, with an adjoining cluster 8 times more frequently and with a neighbour 1-2 clusters away 6 times as frequently as expected. One-third of the 3103 marriages were contracted within a distance of two clusters or less, and 60% eight clusters or less apart. A marital distance of 15 clusters (= 7 km) included 74% of the marriages. The predominance of a marriage pattern based on such geographical proximity must necessarily imply similarity in genetic structure of the descendants. Close consanguineous mating was apparently consciously avoided. This extreme geographical proximity of the spouses of heirs to the independent farms is probably explained by the function of a marriage as a contract to benefit the farm: promoting good neighbourliness and preventing quarrels and lawsuits related to the already very complicated ownership of cultivated land.
The prevalence and incidence of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were recorded in two lake-island and eight rural mainland communities in Mwanza, Tanzania. The prevalence and incidence of HIV and syphilis were lower on the islands, but this pattern was not seen for herpes simplex virus type-2, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, male urethritis or antenatal prevalences of Trichomonas vaginalis. Island men reported fewer sexual partners than mainland men but no differences were found for women. Island men were more likely to be circumcised, island women less mobile and there were differences in marriage patterns. Possible explanations for the differences in HIV and syphilis include: slower introduction of HIV into the islands because of geographical isolation, more core-group sexual contact on the mainland, higher prevalence of male circumcision on the islands and differences in marital status. Differences in transmission dynamics may lead to geographical patterns that vary between STIs.
"Using data from the 1991 Viet Nam Life History Survey, this article examines the patterns and determinants of age at first marriage. It shows that socio-economic and political changes during the last few decades are associated with a shift to older ages of first marriage. It identifies regional variations and discusses the significant impact of warfare on the country's age patterns of marriage. It concludes by bringing out the implications of the study for policy purposes." The full text is of this article is available electronically through www.undp.org/popin.
In 1994, a total of 159,959 marriages were performed in Canada, up only slightly from 159,316 the year before. This small increase had no effect on the crude marriage rate, which remained at 5.5 marriages per 1,000 population. Aside from a brief uptum in the late 1980s, Canada's marriage rate has fallen quite steadily since the early 1970s. The overall decline is also evident when rates are disaggregated by the prior marital status of the bride and groom (single, divorced or widowed). Since 1974, the average ages of brides and grooms have risen about five years to 30.1 and 32.6, respectively. Nonetheless, the peak ages for marriage are the twenties. In this age range, women's marriage rates exceed those of men, but at older ages, men's rates are higher. And at progressively older ages, a growing proportion of grooms have brides at least 10 years their junior. The marriage patterns of Quebec residents differ from those of other Canadians. Quebec residents are much more likely to remain single or live common-law, and if they do marry, they are slightly more likely to divorce. Once divorced or widowed, people in Quebec are less likely than those in the rest of Canada to remarry. This article is based on data compiled by Statistics Canada from marriage registration forms provided by the central Vital Statistics Registry in each province and territory.
The hypothesis is presented that the etiology of schizophrenia is neurodevelopmental: schizophrenia is a disorder occurring in extremely late maturers, whereas manic-depressive psychosis affects early maturers. This hypothesis is related to recent neurobiological findings and also to the following epidemiological and demographic topics covered by the author in her review of social class, marriage, and fertility in schizophrenia: Kretschmer's observations of body type differences between patients with schizophrenia and manic-depressive psychosis; trends in the incidence of schizophrenia and manic-depressive psychosis in industrialized versus developing economies; changing epidemiology of the subtypes of schizophrenia and of manic-depressive psychosis; sex differences in manic-depressive psychosis and schizophrenia; fertility and childlessness in schizophrenia; selection for marriage in schizophrenia; marriage patterns, inbreeding, and schizophrenia; social class, social mobility, and occupation in schizophrenia; social mobility and social selection; excess of schizophrenia in the lowest strata of society; social class, course, and outcome; and social stress and schizophrenia.