A Proportional Hazards Model of Family Breakdown

Rates of family breakdown were studied in a birth cohort of New Zealand children during the period from birth to 5 years. Family breakdown occurred at a steady rate of approximately 2.3% per annum with the result that by 5 years just under one child in every eight had experienced a family breakdown. Rates of breakdown were related to a series of family formation and social factors including length of marriage type of marriage family size planning of pregnancy parental age family socioeconomic status and church attendance. The various risk factors related to family breakdown are modeled using a proportional hazards model. Marked differences in rates of family breakdown by characteristics of childs family are noted. The theoretical and empirical implications of the results are discussed. (EXCERPT)