Findings

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Section 1: Navigating the birth or the adoption of a child

Since the early 1960s, a decline has been observed in the number of children that families tend to have. This decline stems from many social and economic changes that are generating a new context: generalized education, secularization, availability of contraception, the declining popularity of marriage, increased conjugal instability, women's increased participation in the labour market. Women's professional lives have ceased to be a short-term activity preceding marriage and maternity. Often, difficult choices must be made between starting a family and pursuing an enriching career. Despite these concerns, almost all couples continue to embrace parenthood. More >>

Section 2: Navigating couple dissolution

The creation and growth of a family through the birth or adoption of a child (see Section 1) is one of many transition points in the evolution of family life when support systems may come into play. At the other end of the spectrum, when a family structure is dissolved through separation or divorce, couples and families may also need support for navigating through the changes involved. With the growing instability of unions in Canada, with the increasing prevalence of common-law arrangements, and with a growing complexity in the conjugal histories of Canadians in general (Statistics Canada, 2002a), the transitions involved in separation and divorce may present new challenges for families and for the policies and programs designed to support them. More >>