An International Comparative Study of Marriage and Family

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24243059
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Sociology
• Research Institution: Waseda University
• Principal Investigator: ATOH Makoto 早稲田大学, 人間科学学術院, その他 (90409699)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 津谷 典子 慶應義塾大学, 経済学研究科, 教授 (50217379) ; 福田 亘孝 青山学院大学, 社会情報学部, 教授 (40415831)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): 西岡 八郎 早稲田大学, 人間科学学術院, 招聘研究員 (50415824) ; 星 敦士 甲南大学, 文学部, 准教授 (90411834) ; 田渕 六郎 上智大学, 総合人間科学部, 教授 (20285076) ; 吉田 千鶴 関東学院大学, 経済学部, 教授 (70339787) ; 岩間 暁子 立教大学, 社会学部, 教授 (30298088) ; 菅 桂太 国立社会保障・人口問題研究所, 人口構造研究部, 室長 (10327695) ; 中川 雅貴 国立社会保障・人口問題研究所, 国際関係部, 研究員 (80571736) ; 曺 成虎 韓国保健社会研究院, 研究員
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 社会学 / 人口学 / 家族 / 婚姻 / 出産 / 世代関係 / ジェンダー関係 / 国際比較

Outline of Final Research Achievements

First, the results of this study show that unstable employment delays male marriage, whereas better-educated women remain single longer. Hence, engaging in a secure job and harmonizing family life and employment encourage Japanese young adults to marry. Second, while people with progressive attitudes toward marriage and family have low fertility, traditional attitudes to them decrease the level of fertility. Third, compared with men, women tend to perform much more domestic work after their marriage and childbearing. This finding implies that the attainment of a proper work-family balance plays an important role in raising the level of Japanese fertility. Fourth, our results reveal that the patters of economic, psychological and physical supports between parents and children differ with gender and family relations. Hence, the Japanese government needs to offer various types of supports for aged people, according to not only their economic situations but also familial relationship.

Free Research Field

社会学