Ia. Connidis et Ja. Mcmullin, REASONS FOR AND PERCEPTIONS OF CHILDLESSNESS AMONG OLDER PERSONS - EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF MARITAL-STATUS AND GENDER, Journal of aging studies, 10(3), 1996, pp. 205-222
Using a subsample of 281 childless respondents aged 55 and over, we ex
amine reported reasons for being childless and subjective childless st
atus (self-defi nition of childlessness as a matter of choice or circu
mstance). The primary reason for childlessness among never married ind
ividuals is being single while the central reasons for childlessness a
mong the ever-married are physiological factors, age, and fate. Howeve
r; the reported reasons for childlessness vary within both marital sta
tus groups depending on whether respondents define their childlessness
as a matter of choice or circumstance. Indeed marital status and gend
er appear to be more closely related to childless status than are the
actual reasons given for childlessness. The results show that the inte
raction between gender and marital status is a significant predictor o
f childless status, with widowed women most likely to define themselve
s as childless bay circumstance.