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International Journal of
Population Studies A theoretical review of childlessness

non-event, that is, no biological child (Houseknecht, 1987) published materials on the topic analyzed. Although
helps to understand better reproductive behavior and the this approach does not explicitly aim to maximize the
correlated consequences in family formation and gender scope of the discussed main topic and does not include
relations (Billari et al., 2009; Hayford, 2013; Sobotka & comprehensive searching, it provides an examination
Beaujouan, 2014; Sobotka & Testa, 2008). of different aspects and enables covering a wide range
of subjects (at various levels of completeness and
Part of the literature on childlessness presents the
topic through a broad discussion that focuses on low comprehensiveness), which is ultimately the objective of
fertility and new family patterns (Sobotka, 2004; Sobotka this theoretical work (Grant & Booth, 2009). In addition
& Testa, 2008); other studies focus on empirical analyses to this Introduction, Section 2 presents and contextualizes
of childlessness and its trends (Hayford, 2013; Leocádio et childlessness in low-fertility countries, based on the
al., 2022; Reher & Requena, 2018). Fewer in number are discussion of its past and current trends. It also discusses
those that discuss the topic through a theoretical approach important aspects and theoretical approaches that help
(Agrillo & Nelini, 2008; Kreyenfeld & Konietzka, 2017; explain these trends. Section 3 discusses the relationship
Tanturri et al., 2015). Complementing this still incipient between childlessness and important sociodemographic
variables that are most recurrent in the literature. Section
type of analysis (theoretical discussions), this work aims 4 presents, first, the main types and characterizations of
to debate, through an analytical approach, some important childlessness, and, based on them, proposes a framework
and (most) recurrent issues in the literature that deal
somehow with childlessness. Although it does not seek to of general pathways to childlessness. Section 5 concludes
exhaust the whole literature, to assess this general aim, this the study.
study has the following specific objectives: 1) discussing 2. Contexts, aspects, and theoretical
different contexts, aspects, and theoretical frameworks that approaches capable of explaining
help explain childlessness; 2) discussing the association
between childlessness and important (and recurrent in childlessness
literature) sociodemographic variables; and 3) proposing a 2.1. Contexts and aspects
general framework of pathways to childlessness, developed Childlessness is a feature increasingly present in low-fertility
from the discussion of the main types of childlessness. In contexts. The fertility transition changed the patterns of
this vein, this study contributes to the development of the family formation, and the increase in childlessness is an
theoretical framework that discusses childlessness and important outcome of this process (Sobotka & Testa, 2008).
encourages further research into this topic.
The share of women who end their reproductive period
The contextual and geographical focus of this (women’s reproductive period comprises the 15 – 49 age
theoretical discussion is on countries with low fertility and interval (WHO, 2022)) without a child in Italy reaches 25%.
higher levels of development, on which there is also greater In countries such as Germany, Finland, Austria, and the
demographic academic production when it comes to the United Kingdom, around one-fifth of cohorts of women
topics discussed. It is worth mentioning, however, that born around 1965 are childless. In other countries such as
the proposition of the general pathways to childlessness Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, Spain, and Greece the
(third specific objective) can also be applied to contexts of percentages range between 15% and 20% (Tanturri et al.,
different levels of development. Although it also discusses 2015). Childlessness is also increasing among cohorts that
biological reasons for childlessness, this study focuses have not yet completed the reproductive period. And, even
particularly on key factors and theoretical frameworks if part of these women ends up having children, another
that are correlated to each other and that have a greater share may not be able to fulfill their reproductive plans
appearance in the social and (especially) demographic as a result of a set of factors that involve postponement of
scientific literature devoted to discussing low fertility fertility, decreasing fecundity, or changes in reproductive
and childlessness. Furthermore, this research focuses on intentions (Miettinen & Szalma, 2014).
women and the reason for this is two-fold. First, the highest Regarding the historical childlessness trend, in several
share of studies targets women. Second, the proposition of European countries, at the end of the 19 century and
th
the general framework of pathways to childlessness takes the beginning of the 20 century, around 20% of women
th
into consideration the restricted women’s reproductive ended the reproductive period without a child (Kreyenfeld
period and the temporary versus permanent childlessness & Konietzka, 2017). This high percentage was due (in
distinction. part) to the European pattern of marriage (Hajnal, 1965),
This work uses literature review as a method, which is in which young adults left their parents’ homes to work
a type of review that qualitatively describes and discusses and accumulate capital, which consequently raised the

Volume 7 Issue 2 (2021) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.v7i2.352