How many children do couples have when they break up? Educational stratification in parity at separation.

Abstract

This study investigated educational differences in parity distribution at separation. Using the Harmonized Histories and GGS-II data sets, we examined unions ending in separation in 1995-2004 and in 2011-20 across 12 countries in Europe and North America, comparing them with a matched group of intact unions. Our analysis revealed a negative educational gradient in parity at separation. The mean number of children at separation decreased with higher levels of parental education in 10 out of 12 countries in the earlier observation window and four out of six countries in the later observation window. This educational gradient was more pronounced in unions ending in separation than intact unions and also in the earlier observation window. Overall, our findings show that couples with low and medium education contribute disproportionately to the population of children experiencing parental separation, corroborating concerns raised by previous studies on the social stratification of separation.