Intergenerational Influences on Fertility in Thailand

Kristin Snopkowski, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
Rebecca Sear, Durham University

This study seeks to understand the proximate mechanisms by which kin influence fertility using data from the 1987 Thailand Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), a nationally representative sample of 6,775 women. Kin influence is measured by the length of time couples live with the husband’s or wife’s parents after marriage. Event-history analysis, multilevel modeling and structural equation modeling are used to investigate both fertility outcomes and potential pathways through which postnuptial residence may influence fertility outcomes. We show that living patrilocally increases fertility by shortening time from marriage to first birth, and increases the likelihood of progression to first, second and third births. These effects are mediated through correlations between paternal residence and lower age at marriage, and delayed contraceptive use. Living matrilocally also reduces age at marriage and shortens time from marriage to first birth, but has no effect on progression to subsequent births or child survivorship.