Disability and family forms: notes from the UK for understanding family poverty dynamics

Abstract

There is limited evidence concerning the effect of impairment and disability experiences on the dynamics of family forms. We can summarise, from large cross-sectional data including the 2001 Census, that having a disability is associated with lower rates of marriage, controlling for age, and having fewer children. Some impairments appear to have very large effects. Our analysis then draws on longitudinal data from BHPS and FACS and suggests that for some disabled people there are significant barriers in accessing partnerships and parenting. This increased likelihood of lone parenting amongst disabled adults and parents of disabled children is of note in relation to a range of policy areas, including maternal employment, care (including parenting), child care and economic well-being. Our analysis also considers movements into and out of poverty; some of the effects of disability occur through a higher risk of poverty, but there remain effects attributable specifically to disability.