Age at first birth is strongly and negatively associated with educational achievement. In addition, there is no evidence that early childbearers catch up with their childless age peers. However, whites seem to incur a greater educational decrement than blacks. (Author/GC)

The focus of this paper is an empirical illustration of how distorted subjective probabilities for sex of next birth might influence fertility behavior. Recent models of the fertility decision-making process are provided. (Author/MA)

This report describes a method for objectively assessing the style of mother-infant interaction without regard to the specific content of the interaction. Application of this method to systematic observations made of 45 mother-infant dyads revealed sex and parity effects. (Author/JMB)

States that one of the major challenges in teaching an introductory sociology course is to find activities that involve students in the research process, illustrate important sociological concepts, and maintain students' interest. Provides a three-part assignment on the birth rate which accomplishes these three goals. Includes copies of handouts…

Reports the results of an examination of the impact of a first child on three groups of women: voluntarily childless wives and single women wanting to remain childless; mothers of one child by choice and single women who want an only child; and two-child mothers and single women who want to have two children. (Author/BL)

A year after their firstborn child was delivered, 100 fathers were asked about their attitudes toward and their actual participation in infant care. Results concerned several dimensions of paternal involvement and suggested that fathers' intention to participate in delivery is more important than their actual presence. (Author/RH)

First and second born college students (N=178) responded to measures of four social cognition factors. Multivariate analysis of variance identified relationships of social cognition factors with five sibling constellation components: subject's sex, subject's birth order (first or second), adjacent first or second born sibling's sex, spacing…

Compared the early recollections of 50 first-borns and 98 later-borns. The first-borns mentioned significantly more nonfamily members, illness/injury, hospital/doctor's office. Later-borns mentioned significantly more siblings than did first-borns. Findings were discussed in the context of Adler's personality theory. (JAC)

Compared three groups of Black, White, and Mexican-American delinquent and nondelinquent males (N=135)). Significant main effects were found with respect to delinquency, self-concept, and self-esteem. A significant interaction was present for delinquency and ethnicity for both self-concept and self-esteem. Birth order and ethnicity were related…

This study examines the effect of birth order and gender on the interaction of 32 mothers and their first- and second-born infants. Results suggested that interaction between mother and her infant varied depending on the birth order and gender of the infant. (Author/SB)

Gives explanations as to why these two Mexican-American populations deviate from the prevailing norm of extremely high fertility observed among Mexican-Americans. (Author/AM)

This paper reports a test of Easterlin's (1973) hypothesis that marital fertility is more a function of relative than actual income. Results indicate actual income exercised a significant positive effect on marital fertility at all points in time while relative income did not. (Author)

At the Millennium Summit, the world community pledged to promote gender equality and chose as a specific target the achievement of gender equity in primary and secondary education by the year 2005 in every country of the world. Based on the findings from a growing empirical literature that suggests that gender equity in education promotes economic…

This report presents national birth rate trends for teenagers, focusing on the 1990s. The percent change in rates for 1991-2000 is presented for the United States, and the change for 1991-99 is presented for states. Tabular and graphical descriptions of the trends are discussed for the nation and each state by age group, race, and Hispanic origin.…

The "Research & Action Report," published twice a year, is a window on the activities and initiatives at the Wellesley Centers for Women. The report typically features news about the Centers, interviews with researchers, commentary on recent events or social trends affecting women and girls, announcements of new publications, and…