Dr. Donna Bobbitt-Zeher, Department of Sociology
Rank at the time of award: Assistant Professor
and
Dr. Douglas Downey, Department of Sociology
Rank at the time of award: Professor
Abstract
Some scholarship has considered the potential problems low fertility may cause at the societal level, such as labor shortages and an aging population (Zachariah 2001), but surprisingly little research has explored how growing up with few siblings influences children’s ability to get along with peers and eventually develop long-term meaningful relationships in adulthood. The primary goal of this seed grant is to assess these questions using a unique instrumental variable: miscarriages. This research will serve as the basis for a conference presentation, a publishable manuscript, and development of a full grant proposal for the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD).
Publications resulting from this seed grant
2020. Merry, Joseph, Bobbitt-Zeher, Donna, and Douglas B. Downey. 2020. “Number of Siblings in Childhood, Social Outcomes in Adulthood” Journal of Family Issues 41(2)212-234. PMCID: PMC9435386
2016. Bobbitt-Zeher, Donna, Douglas B. Downey, and Joseph Merry. “Number of Siblings During Childhood and the Likelihood of Divorce in Adulthood.” J Fam Issues. 2016 Nov; 37(15): 2075–2094. PMCID: PMC5098899. DOI: 10.1177/0192513x19873356.