Learning, Family Formation and Dissolution [Wider Benefits of Learning Research Report No. 4]

The relationship between learning and the family is complicated and continually changing. As education extends for increasing numbers of people and careers become a defining feature of adult life for both men and women, decisions about the timing of marriage and parenthood become more problematic. Marriage and parenthood may be a considered decision, as part of a career or, where fulfilling employment opportunities are limited, seen as the only choice. Postponement of marriage and parenthood may effectively rule out both options. Over time, marriages have also become increasingly fragile and the earlier the marriage, the greater the chance of breakdown. This report reviews evidence on these complex aspects of relationships in the modern life course in which education, qualifications, and learning opportunities more generally, have a major part to play. An extensive review of literature is used to examine: partnership formation, including marriage and cohabitation; partnership dissolution and divorce; changing patterns of childbearing including teenage pregnancy; benefits of learning as a protective factor in parenthood; and education and later childbearing. The report ends with the exposition of a theoretical framework in which to locate the relationship between family formation and learning. Finally, some implications for policy are considered together with key questions which further research in this area needs to address