Projects
Partnership, fertility, housing, and labour market transitions across the life course
Project contributors: Perelli-Harris B, Berrington A, Chao S,
This Project is part of the following research programme/s:
Overview
Previous research found that childbearing within cohabitation is associated with a pattern of disadvantage; however, less is known about couples' partnership and fertility decision-making with respect to labour market participation and housing conditions. This project extends prior work to look at the causes and consequences of partnership decision-making in the context of changing economic conditions and social norms in the UK. Using the UKHLS, we investigate whether cohabitors are more or less likely to be in dual-earner, male- or female-breadwinner households than married couples, and to what extent this changes after a birth. We also examine whether local housing costs prompt entrance into union or marriage and explore new questions on marriage intentions that will be fielded in the 2018-19 wave of UKHLS. The research will inform the debate on whether legal rights should be expanded to unmarried couples.
Publications & Activities
For better or worse: Economic strain, furlough, and relationship quality during the Covid-19 lockdown
Journal of Marriage and Family (2023).
Authors: Perelli-Harris B, Chao S, Berrington A,
Sleep hours and quality before and after baby: Inequalities by gender and partnership
Advances in Life Course Research (2022). 55
Authors: Chao S, Perelli-Harris B, Berrington A, Blom N,
Understanding trends and patterns in life satisfaction during the Pandemic: Gender, work, and family care
British Society for Population Studies (BSPS) annual conference 2022 (2022). (Winchester)
Authors: Berrington A, Chao S,
For better or worse: economic strain and relationship quality during the covid-19 pandemic
European Network for the Sociological and Demographic Study of Divorce 19th Annual Meeting (2021). (Virtual)
Authors: Perelli-Harris B, Chao S, Berrington A,
Gender Inequality in Housework: Persistence and Change by Partnership and Parenthood Status in the Early 2000s
Journal of Family Issues (2021). 43 (10)
Authors: Chao S,
For better or worse: Economic strain and relationship quality during the Covid‐19 pandemic
BSPS Conference 2021 (2021). (Virtual)
Authors: Perelli-Harris B, Chao S, Berrington A,
Sleep Hours and Quality Before and After Baby: Inequalities by Gender and Partnership
PAA conference 2021 (2021). (Virtual)
Authors: Chao S, Perelli-Harris B, Berrington A, Blom N,
For better or for worse? Economic strain, work-family balance, and Relationship Quality During the COVID-19 pandemic
PAA conference 2021 (2021). (Virtual)
Authors: Perelli-Harris B, Chao S, Berrington A,
Furlough and relationship quality
Understanding Society Mini Conference: Changing Families (2021). (Virtual)
Authors: Chao S,
Gender attitudes and practices among married and cohabiting parents
University of Southampton, CPC (2020). Series Number: 57.
Authors: Chao S, Berrington A, Perelli-Harris B,
How partnerships have changed in the UK over the last 30 years
University of Southampton, CPC (2020). Series Number: 50.
Authors: Chao S, Blom N, Berrington A, Perelli-Harris B,
Relationship quality indicators and living apart together union transitions
BSPS (2019). (Cardiff)
Authors: Ciritel A, Berrington A, Perelli-Harris B,
Media
How are relationships - between couples and within families - changing? Understanding Society. 2022
Understanding Society podcast speaks to Professor Brienna Perelli-Harris about changing trends in couple and family relationships and the impact of the pandemic on these.
Meet the Covid Comfortables: the middle classes who got richer in the pandemic The Telegraph. 2021
Professor Brienna Perelli-Harris quoted in an article in The Telegraph about how the pandemic led to a 63% increase in relationship improvements for those with higher earnings.
Life satisfaction lower during Covid - but some groups fare worse than others
News story on Understanding Society website linking to CPC Policy briefing paper 64, A troubled year: Life satisfaction during the pandemic by Dr Shih-Yi Chao, Professor Ann Berrington and Professor Brienna Perelli-Harris.
How 'out of wedlock' went from an insult to an aspiration The Telegraph. 2021
Professor Brienna Perelli-Harris quoted in The Telegraph about changing attitudes towards getting married.
Young less likely to own their home before starting a family The Times. 2021
News article in The Times quotes research by Professor Ann Berrington about declining home ownership among new parents. Please see CPC Policy briefing 63, Homeownership and the transition to parenthood.
New parents as likely to be in private rented housing as own homes Youtube. 2021
Video on Youtube quotes research by Professor Ann Berrington about declining home ownership among new parents. Please see CPC Policy briefing 63, Homeownership and the transition to parenthood.
New parents as likely to live in private rented housing than owning homes as cost of owning competes with raising children Morning Star. 2021
News article in Morning Star quotes research by Professor Ann Berrington about declining home ownership among new parents. Please see CPC Policy briefing 63, Homeownership and the transition to parenthood.
New dad and mom are as more likely to be in personal rental lodging as they're in their very own lodging Shiny Life. 2021
News article on Shiny Life website quotes research by Professor Ann Berrington. Please see CPC Policy briefing 63, Homeownership and the transition to parenthood.
Study finds disconnect between home ownership and starting a family New Start Mag. 2021
News article in New Start Mag quotes research by Professor Ann Berrington about declining home ownership among new parents. Please see CPC Policy briefing 63, Homeownership and the transition to parenthood.
New parents as likely to be in private rented housing as own homes The Independent. 2021
News article in The Independent quotes research by Professor Ann Berrington about declining home ownership among new parents. Please see CPC Policy briefing 63, Homeownership and the transition to parenthood.
Buying a house no longer comes before having children, researchers find The Telegraph. 2021
News article in The Telegraph quotes research by Professor Ann Berrington about declining home ownership among new parents. Please see CPC Policy briefing 63, Homeownership and the transition to parenthood.
