The Children of Older First-time Mothers in Canada: Their Health and Development

by Tracey Bushnik and Rochelle Garner

Introduction

In Canada, it is increasingly common for women to delay childbearing. Not only are more women over thirty giving birth, but the proportion of first births occurring among women over thirty has been increasing steadily over the past 20 years.

It is important to understand the possible implications of these trends for human health and development. While many studies have examined the pregnancy and health-related outcomes of late childbearing for women, less is known concerning the potential consequences for their children.

The purpose of this study is to help fill this gap. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY), this study examined the relationship between late childbearing among first-time mothers and three facets of children's development: (i) physical health and development, (ii) behaviour, and (iii) cognitive development.

The report begins with a definition of "late childbearing", followed by a profile of the characteristics of the first-born children included in the study and a description of the variables of interest. Subsequent sections address the relationship between the age of the mother at the child's birth and the child's developmental outcomes.

Objectives

This study used data from the Canadian National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) to examine the relationship between late childbearing among first-time mothers and three facets of child development: (i) physical health and development, (ii) behaviour, and (iii) cognitive development.