Competing Pleasures? The Impact of Leisure Time Use on the Transition to Parenthood

Abstract

Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, the authors examine the impact of leisure, both in terms of the total amount of leisure time and of specific types of leisure activities, on the transition rate to parenthood 2 years later (N = 3,795 women and N = 3,712 men). With regard to the amount of leisure time, it was found that strongly leisure-oriented women exhibited a lower likelihood of first motherhood only if no close family members lived nearby who could provide informal child care support. Analyses concerning specific types of leisure activities revealed clear timing effects: Respondents, particularly women, with a strong preference for out-of-home leisure activities tended to delay their first births. However, at the age of 41 years, they ended up with a level of childlessness comparable to those who engage in out-of-home activities less frequently. No similar delaying effects could be found for other types of activities.