Search

Age specific divorce rates for the United States as a whole are not available. This paper is an attempt to develop estimates of age specific incidence of divorce for the U.S. female population employing regression analyses. Certain correction factors are suggested to make the estimates built on a world divorce situation basis correspond to the American situation. Results derived in the paper reveal that the divorce curve for U.S. females is L-shaped in form. The age group below 20 years had the highest incidence of divorce (43 per 1000) followed by the age group 20 to 24 (33 per 1000) in 1969, while in 1960 these incidences were 33 per 1000 and 23 per 1000, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One significant way of viewing the life of an individual is in relation to what has been termed his life course. This has two components— life goal and career. Life goals are those aims which have highest value, can be attained only after a relatively protracted series of activities, and become the person's reason for existence. The series of activities engaged in to achieve these goals constitutes a career. The life goals give purpose and meaning to one's life, the career directs and organizes life. relatively little scientific research has been undertaken on the third and fourth stages of middle age. The present paper deals with the results of a study of the life course in middle age. The middle age adjustments described in the paper are found in the U.S. and can be shown to depend upon the nature of American culture. Two cultural factors stand out. In the first place, the social organization is mobile so that more individuals aspire to life goals which will improve their class position. In such cases, the pursuit of the chosen life course involves a good deal of conscious effort, the individual is constantly aware of the great amount of time and energy he has invested in his career.

The article discusses the second experiment being done on the cardiac responses of infants in the U.S. The results of the previous experiment had clearly revealed that the effect of repeated stimulation is response decrement and is directly related to age. In addition, the younger infants showed less decrement than the older infants. The subjects of the present study are consisting of infants with different age groups. The procedure described in the previous experiment was used in this experiment. Electrodes were attached to the subjects to obtain the cardiac response. The cardiac responses are then recorded both on a punched paper-tape system and on a polygraph. The results of this experiment are also emphasized in the article.

If the pattern of fertility, mortality and interregional migration exhibited by the United States population during 1950-60 were to continue in the future, the proportions of persons in the various age groups and regions would fluctuate from decade to decade. These fluctuations would become less marked with time, however, and eventually all the proportions would stabilize at certain fixed values. This collection of values may be called a stable age by region composition corresponding to the given schedule of fertility, mortality and migration. The same phenomenon may be observed when individuals move between socioeconomic categories as, for example, socioeconomic status or educational attainment levels. The substantial differences between these various situations conceal remarkable similarities. In each case the continued operation of schedules of fertility, mortality and mobility between categories may result in a stable composition. The purpose of this paper is to shed some light on the nature of these stable compositions, on the interrelation between their various components, and on their relation to the patterns of fertility, mortality and mobility which generate them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a clear understanding of the inherent changes in mortality with advance in age, it is necessary to observe the experience of generations rather than the cross-section of period experience. In fact, the latter may produce a misleading picture as can be illustrated in the case of tuberculosis. Period experience pointed to a rise in tuberculosis death rates with advance in age, whereas generation experience indicates a decline with aging. The present paper proposes the study of mortality changes of all generations existing at one period to a subsequent period. Some characteristics and trends in the changes in generation mortality of white males and white females since 1900 are discussed. It is pointed out, in particular, that since World War II white males have been experiencing a rapidly increasing rise in generation mortality with the approach of midlife. A comparison of generation mortality changes from 1950 to 1960 among countries of traditionally low mortality shows that only males in the other English-speaking countries may be undergoing the same experience as white males in the United States upon the approach of midlife. It is not evident in the Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands and in the other countries. The reason for these differences is not apparent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates determinants of school enrollment and school performance of children in the United States. School enrollment here refers to whether a child is or is not enrolled in school, and school performance refers to whether an enrolled child is behind, with, or ahead of his age group in years of schooling completed. The investigation is based on data from the 1960 Census. Variables describing age, color, sex, rural-urban status, education of parents, and income of parents are used to explain variation in school enrollment and school performance across the school age population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the results obtained in administering a modified Terman intelligence test to 327 Greek children aged from 7 to 12 years. A negative correlation between intelligence and family size was obtained. The results are compared with those obtained in similar inquiries in Britain and the U.S.A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the author's perspective as a student attendee at the 20th Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs which was held in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. She emphasizes that the most apparent difference between the older and younger participants was the acceptance of the elders to the state of the world. She notes that there is a need for a younger generation on idealism and commitment to change concerning science. She adds that the majority points for the alternative selection for the participants might be based on their expertise, reputation and professional qualifications.

The article discusses marketing to people under the age of 18. The author divides these individuals into four groups, those under the age of five, those between five and 12 years of age, those between 12 and 18, and those between 18 and 25. According to the author, the first and youngest group, those under five, have no purchasing power. The second group, are subjected to older people's influences as well as those in their own peer groups. The third group, comprise the market where most mass buying originates. Those in the eldest group, the young adults, are more likely to focus on items that will help them settle down, find a house and build a family. The author believes the youth market is important because of the influence they can exert on their parents as a marketing target.

A set of unique data collected in the Rhode Island Health Study indicates that differentials in never-pregnant status are similar to those in childlessness. The study makes possible the comparison of childlessness among three distinct birth cohorts--the depression cohorts having one of the lowest fertility, the "Baby Boom" mothers having one of the highest fertility, and the currently under 30 cohort, who are still in the midst of reproductive processes. Inter-cohort comparisons of differentials in childlessness and never-pregnant status indicate certain new insights into the phenomenon of childlessness. For example, there is an indication as judged from the 30-49-year age group, that the educational differentials in permanent childlessness have disappeared for those with more than eight years of schooling. This result probably suggests the general aversion to childlessness in the United States. Again, the 30-49 group points to a decline in the conventional white collar-blue collar differential in permanent childessness. The religious differentials in childlessness indicate that cohort variations in per cent childless among Catholics are similar to those of Protestants. They probably imply the significance of the general social and economic experience of the specific birth cohorts and suggest that in all cases religious preferences alone are not decisive. An approximate estimate of fetal loss taken as the difference between per cent childless and per cent having been never pregnant indicates that, except for the under 30 cohort, it has no systematic relationship with SES factors. For the under 30 cohort, however, the index is higher among the higher educated and the white collar occupations. It is important to emphasize that the differences in this index by SES factors are not statistically significant at the usual five per cent level of significance. Lastly, an attempt to estimate the prevalence of involuntary childlessness due to fertility impairments indicates that it is about four per cent in an American population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the magnitude, sources, and consequences of differences among age strata in various dimensions of religious orientation and practice. A national sample of 4444 Lutheran church members, ages 15-65, completed a 740-item survey. From these data six age groups were empirically formed; these exhibited significant differences on 43 of 52 major scales. Patterns of age strata differences supported a "selective gap" theory rather than a "great gap" interpretation of contrasts among age strata. The youth stratum, 19-23, was found to be most heterogeneous in their beliefs, attitudes, or life styles. Although some within-stratum solidarity was evident, it generally was weak and overshadowed by lineage solidarity. Implications of combined aging and cohort effects conclude the discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the present scenario in the field of social gerontology regarding the problems of elderly people who are increasingly occupying the general public and those who are responsible for policy in the sphere of labor and welfare. But, in spite of important developments in research, the factual basis for policy making is still very weak. The situation of the elderly no doubt varies from country to country, but intelligent discussion regarding the differences and their economic and cultural background is hampered by the lack of knowledge about basic facts in many countries and the incomparability of existing material. In recent years, an increasing number of researchers from various disciplines have been engaged on research into old age, but they tend to be working in relative isolation. The absence of systematic means of communication outside the United States prevents most of them from assimilating the work of people in other countries. In order to improve these conditions the International Association of Gerontology, in 1955-56, established a Social Research Committee consisting of economists, sociologists, psychologists and physicians with a branch for Europe and a branch for the United States.

The article focuses on the recent increase of persons in the social security ages. According to the author, since the social-security program was instituted in the U.S. there has developed a strong tendency for persons less than 65 years of age to declare themselves old enough to qualify for old-age assistance. This is much more pronounced on the part of Negroes than that of white people and occurs more commonly in the case of women than of men. It also seems to be greatest in the South and appears to be less frequent among the farm population than among residents of cities or rural-non-farm areas, that is, among the village and sub-urban populations. The determination of regional differences is very difficult because of migrations of elderly persons from one section of the country to another. Thus the fact that there were more persons aged 65-69 in 1940 than there were in the age group 55-59 in 1930 in such states as California and Florida is partially due to the migration of persons who have retired from active life to those states.

Conflicts between aged parents and their children cannot be adequately explained by the traits of age or of youth or by the struggle for status between age groups. Specific disputes arise in the early years of each family and tend to persist throughout life. Their character is largely determined by the historical, cultural setting. Such conflicts may be diminished in the future by the disappearance of the rural pioneer mores or by reducing the dependence of the aged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rural Sociology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article assesses the cost of a comprehensive minimum program for American social security. It also gives details of the precise framework of the Beveridge Report. It is first necessary to determine what each of the corresponding proposals would be for the United States. The following eight primary causes of need are covered: unemployment, disability, loss of livelihood, retirement, marriage, funeral expenses, childhood, physical disease or incapacity. The coverage for these items of need extends to employees, others gainfully occupied, housewives, others of working age, those below working age and those retired above working age. The author considered anyone falling into any of the above six classes as being covered without exception. The first real problem in the construction of the American analogue is the determination of the benefits provided for the six classes to cover the eight causes of need. The basic feature of the British Plan is the assurance of a minimum income during unemployment, old age, and disability.

The article presents a study on the use of motor activity as an index of curiosity in children in the U.S. One of the purpose of this study was to compare amounts of curiosity behavior expressed through motor activity among elementary school children who differed in age, sex and racial ethnic origins. The subjects used were 120 children consisting boys and girls, and black and non-black from the Berkeley Unified School District in Berkeley, California. The results of the study indicates that the amount of curiosity expressed through motor activity did not vary significantly between age groups or sexes but did vary significantly between racial-ethnic groups.

The article concerns the white women employed in five industrial plants of Mississippi, three cotton textile mills and two cotton garment plants, all located in poor agricultural areas of the State. The majority of women in both types of industry were in their twenties, but the mean age of women working in the garment plants was less than the mean age of those employed in textile mills, being 15 years for garment plant workers and 30 years for textile mill workers. The women in the garment plants had on an average about three and ones half grades more schooling than had the women in the textile mills. The majority of the women in both textile mills and garment plants had been farm-reared and this is not surprising since farming has been and is the main occupation of Mississippi people. Twenty-six percent of the textile mill women were reared in homes of textile mill operatives, while the number of garment plant women reared in homes of garment plant operatives was negligible. The difference in the family background of the women in these two types of industry is, therefore, partly due to the fact that the textile mills had been in operation for many years and had produced a second and even a third generation of textile mill workers.

The United States Bureau of the Census has recently published some very interesting figures showing the number of births to mothers according to the occupations of the fathers. If these data were the average number of children ever born to all the wives of the men engaged in a particular occupation, they would be a most significant contribution to differential fertility according to social classes. But they are not. They show only the average number of children ever born to that selected group of wives who reported themselves as having a child born in the year 1925. This article measures the relationship between the average number of children ever born and the percentage of wives reporting themselves as mothers. The procedure followed was to estimate on the basis of 1910 and 1920, the number of males, 15 to 24 and 25 to 44 years of age in each of the great occupation classes for the registration states in 1915. These figures multiplied by the percentages married in the same age groups in 1890 gave the estimated number of married men for the year 1915. Corollaries of the study are that age appears not to be a barrier to the spread of birth control within the limits of the child bearing period, and that apparently classes with the greatest use of birth control concentrate their child bearing within the age period 20-29 years, and more particularly in the age period 25-29 years.

This article presents a comparative study of age distributions of populations of major cities in the United States. The analysis involves all of the cities, 113 in number, having 95,000 or more inhabitants at the time of the 1950 Census. Several studies were done, over the years, to determine definitely that the proportions of young children, adolescents, young adults, those in the prime of life, persons nearing the retirement ages, and of the aged differ sharply from one city to another. For the purpose of comparative analysis of age distribution patterns, a simple charts based on index numbers-based methodology is used which show for each five-year age group the extent to which each city contained in 1950 more or less than its pro rata share of the national total. After the indexes had been computed showing the extent to which in 1950 each of the 113 major cities in the United States contained more or less than its pro rata share of each age group, from 0-4, to 75 and over, the data for each were charted for clear interpretation of data. Three major factors, affecting age profiles, were identified which are: fertility, mortality, and migration.

The article discusses the factors inhibiting the development of the Appalachian region. Appalachia, as defined by the Appalachian Regional Commission, is to some extent a political conglomeration of Appalachias. The annual rate of employment change for Appalachia between 1962 and 1965 was 2.3 percent as opposed to 3.2 percent for the U.S with the Appalachian portions of Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia registering slower growth rates than the U.S. The total population in the Appalachian region in 1960 exceeded 15 million, but only 47.5 percent of this population was classified as being urban. The region suffered an absolute population decline of 3.1 percent in metropolitan areas and 5.1 percent in non metropolitan areas during the 1950 to 1960 census for persons 18 to 64 years of age, the economically-productive age group. Factors such as non-standard transportation system, paucity of public investment, the antiquated governmental structure and the industrial structure inhibited the growth of West Virginia. The transportation and communication systems constitute the major integrating factors in a market system. It is largely the development of the transportation system that furnishes the more important location factors in a market-directed economy. The close relationship between the transportation and communication systems and industrial location reflects the impact of national transportation policy on regional growth.

The article describes fertility trends among Soviet women during the past 40 years as compared to American women during the same period of time. Period-specific fertility rates were arrived at by relating the annual total of live births to a pattern of age-specific fertility rates estimated for each year and also to the number of women for each single year of age. These rates were then appropriately re-arranged and compressed into five-year age groups to form a series of cohort-specific fertility rates. The findings rest on somewhat conjectural estimates of live births and numbers of women in the Soviet Union, some of which were originally prepared before the 1959 Soviet census. The tentative evidence shows that changes in the period-specific fertility of Soviet women were far more irregular and dramatic in the past, than among American women. According to the author, this experimental investigation of fertility in the Soviet Union makes no claim to high standards of accuracy and validity. Its intended purpose is to stress the desirability of shifting emphasis from the temporal and prognostic type of study, characteristic of present-day demographic research about the Soviet Union, to the generational and historical approach.