REASONS FOR AND PERCEPTIONS OF CHILDLESSNESS AMONG OLDER PERSONS - EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF MARITAL-STATUS AND GENDER

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.